CADDEBOSTAN SHORE, TURKEY

They call it ‘sea snot’: a jelly-like layer of slime that develops on the surface of water due to excessive phytoplankton (microscopic marine algae). Yet despite this playful nickname, mucilage, as it is more commonly known, is a grave threat to the marine biome and symptomatic of more problems due to climate change.

These rowers on the Caddebostan shore of Turkey’s Sea of Marmara are a symbol of the ongoing struggle to tackle the mucilage menace. First documented in Turkey’s waters in 2007, mucilage has spread throughout the Sea of Marmara, covering harbours and shorelines and swathes of the surface south of Istanbul, posing a threat to marine life and Turkey’s fishing industry. The mucilage travels from the sea surface to cover the sea floor and its ecosystem, affecting its inhabitants.

“You know what it does to shellfish?” said fisherman Mahsum Daga. “When they open up, it prevents them from closing up again because it gets in the way. All the sea snails here are dead.”

Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoğlu claimed that building the controversial Kanal İstanbul, an artificial waterway, would end the outbreak by diverting cleaner Black Sea water into the area and improving the quality of the water.

In the meantime, workers have tried to remove the sludge with nets. Yet experts says a more lasting solution will require proper marine supervision, as well as biological and chemical disposal systems for the sea’s cities and industrial zones.

VISIT MiNDFOOD.COM

Plastic is a significant problem when it comes to marine pollution. If you weren’t already trying to reduce your single-use plastic consumption, try our five tips. mindfood.com/plastic-free