Sea snot or mucilage: More than what is seen on the surface
While the surface layer can be removed through mechanical efforts and taken out of sight, we must address the mucilage lingering in the depths, threatening marine ecosystems.
Because mucilage didn’t enter our lives today, the waste generated by industrial and agricultural activities around the Marmara region, combined with the deep-sea discharge initiated in Istanbul in 1989, had already set the stage.
When the loss of biodiversity and the rise in seawater temperatures due to climate change is added, the Sea of Marmara has become a paradise for phytoplankton.
Suppose all the wastewater from the Ergene Basin continues to be discharged into the system through deep-sea discharge and the Kanal Istanbul project comes to life. In that case, saving the Marmara may become nothing but a dream.
The briefing note titled "The Mucilage Problem: Causes, Consequences and Solutions" highlights that the mucilage surfacing on the sea and nauseating those living along the Marmara coast for weeks is mere “the visible part” of the problem. It outlines the causes, consequences, and possible solutions.
The note was edited by Akgün İlhan and authored by experts including Murat Türkeş, Ahsen Yüksek, Meriç Colonel, Emine Gözde Özbayram, Ayşe Uyuranoğlu, Emre Güney, Gamze Varol, Ayşen Erdinçler, and A. Cemal Saydam.
According to the authors, it’s not too late for anything. With concrete and systematic steps taken starting today, Marmara can be brought back to life and can once again bring life to its surroundings.