Diving operations off Değirmendere detected a dense layer of mucilage at a depth of approximately 20–22 meters, with concentrations observed between 0–20 meters deep in the Sea of Marmara, OdaTV reported.
Underwater images shared by scientists reveal the extent of the mucilage, prompting calls for urgent action, according to OdaTV. Mucilage formation is triggered by rising sea temperatures, stagnant water conditions, and excessive pollution levels, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, leading to disturbances in the chemical and biological balances of water, En Son Haber reported.
The Sea of Marmara is under the pressure of pollution from approximately 25 million residents living around it, concentrated heavy industry serving half the country, and pollutants from widespread sources carried by more than two hundred rivers, CNN Türk reported.
Mayor of Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Tahir Büyükakın stated that approximately 4.5 million cubic meters of sewage water are discharged into the Sea of Marmara every day, with 53% of this water only passed through preliminary treatment, according to Karar. He emphasized that an effective treatment infrastructure must be implemented in all provinces to protect the Sea of Marmara, Karar reported. "We do not leave a drop of household wastewater from Kocaeli shores into the Sea of Marmara. However, the Marmara is a closed ecosystem. Pollution arising from insufficient treatment systems in other provinces is affecting this area as well. Unfortunately, mucilage is saying 'I am coming,'" said Büyükakın, as reported by Haber7.
Professor Dr. Mustafa Sarı, Dean of the Maritime Faculty at Bandırma Onyedi Eylul University, warned that mucilage is spreading again in the Sea of Marmara and has the potential to rise to the surface from spring onwards with the warming of the waters, according to Halk TV. "As long as cooperation is not achieved, we have no chance of escaping this disaster," said Sarı, according to Aydınlık.
"It has been observed that very limited reduction has been achieved in the nitrogen-phosphorus pollution load discharged into the Marmara Sea," stated Turkey's Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change Fatma Varank, according to Hürriyet. She emphasized the urgency of converting existing wastewater treatment plants to advanced biological wastewater treatment plants, as their inadequacy is negatively affecting the Marmara Sea, Hürriyet reported.
In 2021, the Marmara Sea Action Plan was created, consisting of 22 actions with high-participation workshops and scientific contributions, and 19 out of the 22 items have been completed, according to CNN Türk. Despite these efforts, the pollution load of the Marmara Sea has not been reduced, and without reducing this load, there is no chance of getting rid of the increasing mucilage, as reported by Posta.
Mucilage poses a serious threat to the marine ecosystem, harming many marine creatures, including jellyfish, mussels, and region-specific species like seahorses, according to En Son Haber.
Mucilage is causing fishermen to be unable to pull up their nets, noted Sarı, according to Posta. "From the central government to local governments, from the private sector to non-governmental organizations, and individually to each citizen, it is our responsibility and duty to take measures against mucilage together," he added, as reported by Yeni Şafak.
Varank mentioned that the Ministry follows up on the status of the activities included in the Marmara Sea Action Plan twice a year, according to Sözcü.
Sarı emphasized the urgent need to control pollution sources reaching the Sea of Marmara and reduce waste discharge to combat the mucilage problem effectively, as reported by Yeni Şafak. He warned that among the factors contributing to mucilage formation, only sea pollution—specifically the nitrogen and phosphorus dumped into the sea—is controllable, according to Aydınlık. "As long as the pollution load of the sea is not reduced, the existence of uncontrollable factors causing mucilage will continue, and mucilage formation will also continue," he stated, as reported by Posta.
To reduce the pollution load of the Sea of Marmara, Sarı stated that the following measures should be urgently taken: "Industrial establishments' waste discharges should be rearranged according to the flow of rivers; industrial wastes causing rivers to turn into poison channels should be prevented with control; non-functioning waste treatment facilities should be made operational; dumping mud into the sea should be prevented; at the national level, campaigns should be launched to enable citizens to help the sea; Marmara Sea fishing should be rearranged considering mucilage; and an insurance system should be urgently developed for sectors that will be harmed by mucilage," according to Yeni Şafak.
"In the fight against climate change, which causes the increase in sea water temperature, preventing land-based pollutants, preventing ship-based pollutants, and monitoring and improving biodiversity are seen as important issues," explained Varank, as reported by Sözcü.
Scientists predict that mucilage will become more widespread, especially with rising air temperatures in the summer months, according to Karar. Sarı has been conducting underwater examinations in Erdek Bay and has been warning about the mucilage's spread and its potential to rise to the surface, as reported by Karar. "Science has guided, it has said what it will say. Now the job is with the implementers," he said, according to Posta.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.