News report by Aarya Krishnan.
Istanbul June13: Off the coast of Istanbul, Turkey, the Sea of Marmara, an inland water body connecting the Black and Aegean Seas, is seeing the largest ever outbreak of sea snot. Sea snot, also known as mucilage, is a sticky brownish substance generated naturally by sea algae. However, because the water is exceptionally enriched due to the high concentration of pollutants discharged into the waters and the warm climate, the growth has been exponential.
According to scientists and environmental researchers, the sea snot that has engulfed the Marmara Sea like a canvas tent or a thick blanket threatens to suffocate sea life by blocking sunlight and depleting oxygen. Many marine species have died of suffocation and were seen floating in the water. Marine scientists have discovered that the blanket of sea snot collapse to the sea floor, covering corals almost 100 feet deep, causing an environmental disaster. Fishermen are also facing difficulty because the mucilage clogs their boat motors and nets.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish President, has vowed to scoop up all of the sea snot and to take steps to prevent untreated wastewater from cities such as Istanbul from being dumped into the Marmara Sea. President Erdogan admitted that if no action is taken immediately, the sea snot will spread to the Black Sea. An outbreak has also been reported near Greece in the Aegean Sea.
