Do you really know? What is sea snot?
Aug 15, 2025
A thick, foul-smelling foam known as mucilage, or 'sea snot', has emerged in the Marmara Sea, raising alarms about environmental damage. This phenomenon results from pollution and global warming, impacting marine ecosystems and local fishing industries. Experts discuss how this sticky substance develops, its historical occurrences, and the urgent need for action to mitigate its effects. They also explore potential solutions to make the sea snot disappear, emphasizing the importance of protecting our precious oceans.
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How Sea Snot Forms
- Sea snot forms when algae get a nutrient overload during warm weather and then grow out of control.
- Pollution and warming waters exacerbate blooms by supplying nutrients and favourable temperatures.
Regional Pollution Links
- The Marmara Sea is vulnerable because polluted rivers like the Danube feed nutrients into the connected Black Sea and Bosphorus.
Previous Outbreaks And Scale
- Marmara experienced sea snot before in 2007, and the current outbreak is the largest on record.
- Researchers found the mucilage now reaches depths up to 100 feet, not just the surface.