Climate change blankets Turkish waters in “sea snot”
A blanket of unsightly, mucus-like algae has blighted the Sea of Mamara.
Turkish waters have become covered in “sea snot”, a gelatinous algae that can threaten coral and the fishing industry, the Guardian reports.
The algal blanket is a direct result of warming waters and excess nitrogen and phosphorous, and according to scientists, the problem is getting worse.
The algae itself is harmless, but in large quantities can stifle marine life and concentrate viruses and bacteria, including E coli.
Dr Barış Özalp, a marine biologist at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University said: “The gravity of the situation set in when I dived for measurements in March and discovered severe mortality in corals.”
He warns that if the problem persists, marine life in the Sea of Marmara could be severely threatened.
