Sea snot from the Sea of ​​Marmara has already reached the Greek islands

“Sea snot” from the Sea of ​​Marmara moved to the Aegean and began to appear around the Greek islands of Lemnos and Agios Eftratios, Greek media reported on Thursday.

It is reported that The municipality of Lemnos took samples of the mucous masses and sent them to special laboratories to await the results. The Ministry of Shipping and the Environment is wary of unprecedented sea pollution.

According to local reports media, the phenomenon began a few days ago at the southern tip of the island of Lemnos, and in some areas reached the coast.

Locals report a viscous slimy substance on the surface of the sea that is yellowish in color when dense. It is said to be odorless, but the thick floating substance is “rough” to the touch.

The emergence of large amounts of sea slime, known as “sea snot” due to its slimy texture, is monitored by the Fisheries Research Institute on behalf of the Greek Ministry of the Environment.

This phenomenon is caused by nutrient overload of algae as a result of pollution and high temperatures.

“It forms from time to time, but usually dissipates after a while. This is the first time in a decade that we have seen so much of him, ”said Stavros Statakis, vice president of the Lemnos Fishermen’s Association, warning that the slime interferes with fishing and also scares off tourists.

So far, there is no official statement on this matter.

Earlier, “sea snot” appeared off the coast of the Turkish island of Imvros.

Residents of Imvros reported that due to northerly winds, a few days before the mucus approached the shores of the island, it continued to move into Greek waters. The south wind brought back the mucus. The municipality of Imvros has already begun clearing slime with teams, and locals hope the wind will change direction again so that the disgusting mass doesn’t ruin their tourist season.

“Fishermen in Kavala noticed a thick layer of slime-like substance floating off the coast of the city in April,” marine biologist Kalliopi Pagkow told a Greek reporter in early June. “The mucus builds up in their nets, making them so heavy that they often break. Those returning to ships are often empty, as the cells are covered in mucus, making them visible to fish. Although “slime,” as scientists call it, is now not visible in the Greek seas, it is impossible to predict the future if another piece of the slime layer will move from Istanbul to the west, ”says Pagkow.

Greek scientist explains the origin of “sea snot”

Greek scientist who is director of research at Institute of Oceanography of Greece (IO) says sea slime is a naturally occurring green sludge that forms when algae are overloaded with nutrients from hot weather and water pollution. The creamy gelatinous substance is usually not harmful by itself, but can attract viruses and bacteria, including E. coli, and become a blanket that chokes marine life in the waters below.

The snot of the Sea of ​​Marmara is the largest such phenomenon in history

Silt of the Sea of ​​Marmara is considered the largest such formation in history and is causing havoc among local residents. “The phenomenon of sea snot is rare, but quite common,” notes Pugkow. She recalls the huge sea snot that formed in the Aegean Sea in the 1980s and in the Adriatic Sea in the 1990s.

Pugkow told the Greek Reporter that the phenomenon is the result of an overproduction of phytoplankton caused by the dumping of untreated domestic and industrial waste into the sea and climate change as higher temperatures favor the process.

“This is a phenomenon that usually occurs in shallow or closed seas such as the Sea of ​​Marmara. However, this time, due to human activities, it has become gigantic, ”she explains.

Boats cruising in the Sea of ​​Marmara have to overcome gray mud, which prevents fishermen from working, as it clogs motors and nets. Divers report that large numbers of fish and other marine life are dying of suffocation.

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