Mucilage returned to Marmara

While recent observations revealed widespread mucilage in the Sea of ​​Marmara between 20 and 30 meters below the surface, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dalyan conducted a dive to investigate the presence of mucilage in the Gulf of Saros, located in the northern part of the Aegean Sea.

Dalyan stated that there has been a serious mucilage problem underwater in the Gulf of Saros since March this year, and said, "The mucilage problem in Marmara causes a place like the Gulf of Saros, which is considered the pearl of our seas, to face a serious mucilage problem. Right now, almost the entire gulf is covered in mucilage."

Noting that the mucilage comes to the region downstream, Dalyan explained that the water coming from the Black Sea enters the Marmara Sea from the surface of the Bosphorus and exits the Dardanelles Strait, with some of this water heading towards the Gulf of Edremit and some of it going around the south of Gökçeada and entering Saros.

Dalyan reported that the color of the mucilage darkens at depths of 4-5 meters in the gulf and sinks to the bottom, and that the mucilage continues in the water column up to 25-30 meters, adding that almost all of the sea meadows in the region are covered with mucilage.

Dalyan reminded that in the 2021 mucilage incident, mucilage decreased relatively in May but intensified again in June, and said, "If the same scenario continues, we can say that mucilage will hit the region again as of June and continue until September and cause great damage. I hope the same scenario does not repeat itself. Our prediction is that this problem will continue until September."

"The situation is serious in İbrice, Erikli, Yayla and Mecidiye"

Comparing the current state of the region with the mucilage period in 2021, Dalyan continued his words as follows:

"In 2021, the mucilage had gone up to Kömür Limanı, Güneyli with the current entering from the southeastern side of Saros. It had not hit the northern and northwestern parts and those shores had overcome it much more easily. Now it has hit the İbrice, Erikli, Yayla, Mecidiye side and unfortunately the situation is serious there too. In a study we conducted in the south of the bay in 2021, almost everything between 5 and 27 meters had died. Life continued in places closed to the current. The mucilage had killed everything else."

Dalyan emphasized that the sea meadows, gorgonian corals and coralline habitats in the region are in serious danger and every effort is important.

Describing the Gulf of Saros as a very important region for sea meadows, Dalyan said, "In our study in 2012-2013, sea meadows were distributed up to a depth of 35 meters. Last year, during the dives of the project carried out in cooperation with the DenizTemiz Association-TURMEPA, Garanti BBVA Bank and Istanbul University , we saw that they had retreated to 17-20 meters due to human pressure."

"Sea meadows, which are the plants of the seas, are disappearing"

Dalyan, who mentioned that sea meadows perform photosynthesis, noted:

"The dense secretion covers the surface of the seagrass leaves, preventing light and the leaf from photosynthesizing. Brown spots like burn spots start to form on the leaf, over time it covers the entire leaf, causing it to die, and when all the leaves of the plant die, the plant is gone. By being present in excess in the water column, it prevents the sun's rays from penetrating downwards, negatively affecting photosynthesis. The same thing actually applies to corals. It covers the corals and prevents them from feeding."

Dalyan emphasized that sea meadows have vital functions such as oxygen production, carbon sequestration, ensuring water clarity and providing habitat for marine life. He said that in areas where these meadows are destroyed, water quality rapidly decreases and biodiversity is seriously reduced, and they are concerned that mucilage will deal the final blow to this ecosystem.