Turkey’s Sea of Marmara experiences the largest outbreak of “sea snot” on record
A large amount of thick, viscous, mucus-like substance known as marine mucilage or sea snot (phytoplankton bloom) is covering the coastline of the Sea of Marmara near Istanbul, Turkey, threatening marine life and the local fishing industry. Sea snot is caused by the overgrowth of phytoplankton — microscopic marine algae — due to pollution.
Sea snot was first reported in the Maramar Sea in 2007 but the latest outbreak is thought to be the largest in history, local media report.
Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said the cause of the latest increase in phytoplankton coating the surface of the Maramar Sea is unrefined wastewater discharged into the sea, adding that he had instructed Environment Minister Murat Kurum to lead the resolution of this issue.
Erdogan also said the problem could spread to the Black Sea.
With a team of 300 people, the ministry is currently carrying out inspections at 91 different points of the Sea of Marmara, as well as all wastewater refinement and solid waste facilities on land, to detect the source of the pollution, he said.
Featured image: Tahsin Ceylan
If you value what we do here, create your ad-free account and support our journalism.
Your support makes a difference
Dear valued reader,
We hope that our website has been a valuable resource for you.
The reality is that it takes a lot of time, effort, and resources to maintain and grow this website. We rely on the support of readers like you to keep providing high-quality content.
If you have found our website to be helpful, please consider making a contribution to help us continue to bring you the information you need. Your support means the world to us and helps us to keep doing what we love.
Support us by choosing your support level – Silver, Gold or Platinum.
Other support options include Patreon pledges, one-off payments using PayPal and purchasing products from our webshop.
Thank you for your consideration. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Teo Blašković
Commenting rules and guidelines
We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules:
We reserve the right to remove any comments that violate these rules. By commenting on our website, you agree to abide by these guidelines. Thank you for helping to create a positive and welcoming environment for all.