The Marmara Sea is an inland sea that connects the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea to the Mediterranean. It is connected to the Black Sea by the Bosphorus and to the Aegean Sea by the Dardanelles. It also separates the Asian and European parts of Turkey and has a length of approximately 240 km, a width of 70 km and a surface area of 11,500 km². A formation has recently occurred in the Marmara Sea and experts named this formation "Mucilage". It is known by everyone as "Sea saliva". Some factors must come together in the formation of mucilage. The sea should be stable, the temperature of the sea should be higher than normal and the nitrogen-phosphorus load in the sea should be high.
Mucilage is not seen for the first time, most of the time, it is harmless. Its overproduction makes it dangerous. The reason for the production of more than normal is Prof. Dr. Mustafa Sarı explains as follows: "There are some anomalies in sea conditions and microalgae multiply rapidly to balance these conditions. When this happens, stress conditions arise and they begin to release secretions to protect themselves." We can say that mucilage is a layer that stretches and thickens, like tulle. When mucilage becomes a stratified structure, it harms sea creatures. It covers the inactive creatures and causes them to lose their vitality by leaving them without oxygen; it destroys existing living species and prevents the formation of new living things. Another negative effect is that it creates a thick layer on the sea and cuts off the relationship between the atmosphere and the sea. In addition to these, it is seen that there are negative effects on areas such as fishing and tourism. Humans have a great contribution to the formation of mucilage. By causing climate crises, we disrupt the delicate balance of ecosystems. Therefore, the biggest factor is the human being.
In today's societies, we are in a consumption system. We mobilize energy resources and the environment in the creation and use of these consumables. With all our artificiality, we disrupt the balance of nature and the natural ones, and as a result, we face climate crises. If we want to reduce this damage to the seas, we should talk about the wastes released into the seas - chemical, industrial, agricultural and household waste. These wastes increase the nitrogen-phosphorus load. This is the second situation in which we initiate the formation of mucilage. In other words, with the climate crises, the sea temperature rises above the average; and secondly, by carrying out the wrong waste policy, we have increased the nitrogen-phosphorus load by polluting the seas at both macro and micro levels and ensuring the continuation of pollution.
In reference to all this, Mustafa Sarı explains "The sea is not a magician. We cannot expect to the sea be clear when we throw whatever we can get into the sea. There is no such thing, there is no free benefit in ecosystems." Man is not the owner of the ecosystem, but a part of it. We have to act knowing this, protect nature and stay away from harmful behaviors. Just as we do not pollute the water we drink at home, we do not throw rubbish on the carpet or on the floor, the world is our first home and we should behave in a similar way. It is clear that if we lose it, we will be longing for green, blue, bright waters like glass, birds chirping rather than living spaces. The Marmara Sea has already started to give us the signals that these times are not far away. Let's remember the environmental awareness education we received in primary school before the blues are painted gray like the greens, and let's protect our environment and our seas. Because we don't have another house to move from here.
