Aerial view of increased mucilage level in Turkey's northwestern coast

A drone photo shows an aerial view of the increased mucilage level at the Caddebostan shore in Turkey's Marmara Sea, June 15, 2021. /CFP

Mucilage is a jelly-like layer of slime or "sea snot" that has spread through the Sea of Marmara, posing a grave threat to the marine biome and the local fishing industry. /CFP

Reportedly, the mucilage develops as a result of untreated waste dumped into the sea, climate change, and the excessive proliferation of microscopic algae called phytoplankton. /CFP

Efforts to clean up the overwhelming "sea snot" are still underway in Turkey. But experts say that simply collecting mucilage on the surface will not yield definitive results. They suggest conditions conducive to the formation of the slime be eliminated for a long-term and effective solution. /CFP