Turkey launches 'sea snot' clean-up to save Sea of Marmara

Ankara launches disaster management plan to rescue marine life and fishing industry

Diver and filmmaker Tahsin Ceylan swims off the Caddebostan shore of Turkey's Marmara Sea to inspect mucilage, a jelly-like layer of slime that develops on the surface because of the excessive proliferation of phytoplankton, gravely threatening marine life. AFP

A boats cuts through mucilage in the Marmara Sea off the Turkish coast. AFP

Excess phytoplankton is causing mucilage in Turkey's Marmara Sea. AFP

A worker clearing slime that developed on the surface of the water. AFP

A diver surveys the sea as experts work to clear marine mucilage. AP Photo

A boat sailing through mucilage off the Caddebostan shore of Turkey's Marmara Sea. AFP

Aerial view off the Caddebostan shore of Turkey. AFP

Boats pass through the mucilage in the Marmara Sea. AFP

A worker clearing mucilage off Turkey. AFP

Turkey on Tuesday pledged to save the Sea of Marmara with a disaster management programme to clean up a slimy "sea snot" outbreak threatening marine life and the fishing industry.

The thick layer of organic matter, also known as marine mucilage, has spread through the sea south of Istanbul covering harbours, shorelines and great areas of the surface.

Some of it has sunk below the waves, suffocating seabed life.

Turkish Environment Minister Murat Kurum said a total of surface-cleaning boats and those that install barriers, as well as 18 other vessels, were working to prevent the spread of the mucilage.

Illegal fishing and "ghost" nets would be banned and Turkey would declare Marmara a protected area by the end of 2021, Mr Kurum said.

"We are starting our cleaning efforts both on land and at sea at 15 points today," he said.

"We are determined to save the Marmara and we will save it."

About 1,000 workers would bring the waste to shore and take it to municipal centres, Mr Kurum said.

Scientists say climate change and pollution have contributed to the proliferation of the mucilage, which contains a wide variety of micro-organisms and can flourish when nutrient-rich sewage flows into seawater.

Residents welcomed the clean-up but complained about what they called years of uncontrolled pollution in the sea.

"Of course, this sea snot is something that is caused over a few years," said Kadir Saydam, 65, a pharmacist.

"Formed by our years-long unawareness, the harmful substances thrown into the sea caused a vomiting in the seabed and when there was no current, it stayed there.

"Having the cleaning efforts is good visually."

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has blamed the mucilage on untreated water from cities including Istanbul, home to about 16 million people, and pledged to "clear our seas from the scourge".