The Turkish Marmara Sea is facing a severe environmental crisis due to the excessive production of algae, resulting in a thick slime that covers the water’s surface. The situation has had a significant impact on the economy, environment, and tourism industry. The increased sea temperatures have led to an algae bloom, causing a widespread occurrence of a sticky, slimy mud that has forced authorities to close several beaches around the popular tourist destination. The Marmara Sea is not only a popular tourist spot but also a crucial location for the fishing industry, which is also suffering from the slime plague.
According to Bayram Öztürk, a biologist from the Turkish Foundation for Marine Research and a professor at Istanbul University, urgent action is necessary to prevent further damage caused by the algae slime. He warns that the Marmara Sea is under significant stress, and the peak of slime formation has not yet been reached. The slime, which is the excretion product of some marine algae, floats mainly on the water’s surface but also underneath. The algae’s proliferation is due to the increased temperatures in the region, and the slime settles on the seabed, endangering flora and fauna.
The slime formation is also favored by untreated wastewater that is directly discharged into the sea. The coast of the inland sea is densely populated, with large cities like Istanbul and Bursa. Despite warnings from experts like Yusuf Öztürk, a marine biologist and former Minister for Environment and Urbanization, the Turkish government has not made significant progress in addressing the issue. The slime is spreading to the North Aegean Sea and the western Black Sea, causing negative effects on the marine ecosystem, including a decrease in the fish population. While the government has announced an action plan, experts believe that more needs to be done, including immediate cleanup and containment measures and better wastewater treatment in Turkey.
