Natural threat to the Turkish straits sea area: the mucilage

Abstract

The Turkish Straits Sea Area comprises the Istanbul, the Canakkale Straits, and the Marmara Sea. The area is the most essential natural waterway connecting the continents of Asia and Europe. However, as of May 2021, it is polluted with Mucilage which is a slippery mass of microorganisms mostly clustered together, covering large areas, mainly in the Sea of Marmara and locally in the Turkish Straits. Unicellular organisms release fatty acids from the body under stressful environmental conditions. The Turkish Straits Sea area, which also connects the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea, constitutes a critical marine habitat among marine species. On the one hand, ballast operations create a sticky surface on the ship's hull and the underwater structure in contact with water. At the same time, there is also the necessity of cooling the ship's machinery with seawater. Ship cooling systems use seawater to cool the ship's engine block, while filtration prevents damage to the system. However, the mucilage effect affects the control of the vessel by causing clogging of the filters that serve to protect the system. The fact that the water taken by filtration is affected by Mucilage, clogging, and involving the outer surface of the ship affects the safety of the vessel at a high level. This research article tries to explain the damage and effects of Mucilage on ships sailing in the Turkish Straits.