Mucilage is waking up in Istanbul: 'Run away as soon as you see it, do not enter the sea'

Mucilage, which was seen at its peak in the Sea of Marmara around 2020, had become a major issue on Turkey's agenda, and efforts were initiated to prevent it.

According to experts, mucilage, which emerges due to reasons such as marine pollution and rising temperatures, negatively affects marine life. It causes fish to die and also impacts human health.

It leads to an increase in cases of vomiting and diarrhea in children. Aerial footage of the Bosphorus shows that the foam formed after the passage of ships does not dissipate and covers every corner of the strait.

MUCILAGE ON THE AVCILAR COAST

On the shores of Avcılar, mucilage appeared clearly in aerial footage. While the mucilage was captured as a long, thin line stretching for kilometers off the coast of Avcılar, experts issued warnings not to enter the sea in areas where mucilage is present.

“I COMPARE THE SLEEPING MUCILAGE TO BEARS HIBERNATING IN WINTER”

Stating that the foam forming in the Bosphorus is reminiscent of the mucilage seen in the seas since 2020, Istanbul Environment Council Secretary General Zafer Murat Çetintaş said, "I brought up the issue of mucilage about 30 years ago. Its formation is accelerating. The mucilage is sleeping; I compare the sleeping mucilage to bears hibernating in winter. It sleeps in winter and reappears when it starts to wake up in summer; mucilage is like that.

It emerges as the air and water warm up. There are surface currents in the Bosphorus. The surface currents come down from the Black Sea. The pollution from countries with Black Sea coasts also comes to us.

Mucilage exists in all the world's seas. When the pollution in the Black Sea begins to enter the straits, mucilage starts to form as the waters warm up. It forms especially in the areas of the Bosphorus without currents," he said.

“RUN AWAY AS SOON AS YOU SEE MUCILAGE, DO NOT ENTER THE SEA”

Stating that the Bosphorus needs to be studied and cleaned more thoroughly, Çetintaş said, "Mucilage causes great harm to marine life. It can especially lead to the death of fish. Fish can die in masses due to a lack of oxygen. Children do not listen when told the sea is dirty and they enter the water.

They catch germs from this pollution. During mucilage periods, we have faced cases of diarrhea and vomiting in children. When you look at the data, you can see that there is an increase in pediatric patients going to hospitals, especially in the summer between June and September, and that cases of diarrhea and vomiting are high among them. Run away as soon as you see mucilage, do not enter the sea," he said.