Page 120 - Çevre Şehir İklim İngilizce - Sayı 3

Causes of Mucilage Formation and Solution Suggestions in
The Light of Mucilage Composition Findings in The Sea of Marmara
Introduction

The Marmara Sea is an inland sea that was formed on a continental crust about
5-20 million years ago. The Sea of Marmara has straits connecting the Aegean
Sea and the Black Sea. There are basins with a depth of more than 1000 m in
the Sea of Marmara. These basins are indicative of the typical fault morphology
formed on the North Anatolian Fault Zone (KAFZ) (Yümün and Kam, 2021). ‘The
surface waters of the Sea of Marmara have a less salty structure than the Aegean
Sea and more salty than the Black Sea. There is a shallow flow from the Black
Sea into the Marmara Sea, and a deep flow from the Marmara Sea into the Black
Sea (Yümün and Kam, 2021). These water flows ensure the balance of salinity in
the Marmara Sea due to waters of the Black Sea joining the Marmara Sea. This
balancing allows protection of the Marmara Sea ecosystem naturally and the
prevention of environmental problems. The absence or decrease of this natural
water flow may cause an excessive increase in sea salinity and pollution by
evaporation, which will occur especially in the summer periods in the Marmara
Sea. While there is surface water flow from the Marmara Sea into the Aegean
Sea in the Çanakkale Strait, there is deep water flow from the Aegean Sea into
the Marmara Sea. Since these water flows provide clean water to the Marmara
Sea, they minimize the pollution impact by diluting the possible pollution in the
sea. Although many beaches and coastal areas have been granted with a Blue
Flag in the Marmara Sea, pollution is observed in some regions. It is estimated
that these pollutions are caused by the wastewater discharged into the sea at
some points as well as the marine traffic.
Yümün (2017) and Yümün et al. stated, in their studies (2021), that the
maritime traffic between the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea leads to the
contamination of the Marmara Sea. The aspects that are primarily responsible
for these pollutants include the bilge and balance waters illegally discharged
into the sea by the ships as well as the discharging of domestic wastewater
inadequately treated (Yümün and Önce, 2017; Keleş et al. 2020). The mass fish
deaths and eutrophication events observed from time to time in the Marmara
Sea are a result of these contaminants. Mucilage (sea snot), which is formed
along with eutrophication and takes the attention of the public, covers the sea
surface extensively and creates environmental pollution.
A slimy transparent substance, defined as mucilage, sea snot, or sea saliva, is
such a group of organic substances. This substance, which is creamy and jelly-
like, may not be harmful in the beginning, but mucilage-forming creatures or
other plankton reproducing in polluted seas, digest over time and penetrates
into the water along with dissolved organic matter (Yümün and Kam, 2021).
Aerobic bacteria (oxygen-dependent living bacteria) that want to
decompose this dissolved organic matter in the sea water consumes most

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