The Bosphorus is literally dying. Despite all the warnings made for years, in addition to plastic pollution on the shores considered the pearl of the Bosphorus; The jellyfish invasion continues. While the negative images on the coastline extending from Kuruçeşme coast to Tarabya continue, it is stated that the increase in the number of plankton and the decrease in marine life have led to an explosion of jellyfish and mucilage. While it is emphasized that heavy sanctions should be imposed on those who pollute the environment in the Beşiktaş, Ortaköy, Kuruçeşme, Arnavutköy, Bebek, Aşiyan, İstinye lines, plastic garbage continues to float on the shores of the Bosphorus. While pet bottles, plastic cups, food boxes and packages can be seen especially on the coastline extending from Rumeli Fortress to Beşiktaş, the area where the most pollution is concentrated is on the coastline between Aşiyan and Kuruçeşme.
WILL THE INVASION END?
Turkish Nature Conservation Association (TTKD) Scientific Advisor Dr. Erol Kesici underlined that the jellyfish invasion in the Bosphorus will cause greater environmental problems in the near future and said, “Plastic garbage piles that accumulate in the sea break down over time and turn into micro plastics smaller than 5 mm. Pollution in the seas is transmitted to aquatic creatures and fish, as well as to humans.” “The jellyfish explosion is related to the disruption of the ecological cycle in the water,” he said.
DISPOSAL CENTER REQUIREMENT
Adding that the coasts of Istanbul and Marmara have been under jellyfish invasion in recent years, Dr. Cutter listed the following warnings: “When fish species common to the food chain disappear, jellyfish begin to dominate the environment. Fishermen should not throw jellyfish caught in their nets back into the sea.” A jellyfish destruction center should be established in Istanbul and fishermen who bring this creature should be paid per item, just like in the case of puffer fish. Also, the other day, the Secretary General of the IMM Environment Council said about jellyfish: ‘We should never destroy them, they have cells that multiply when we destroy them.’ This is incorrect information. “Without correct information, there is no correct environmental management.”
5 METERS DEEP
Bandırma 17 Eylül University Maritime Faculty Faculty Member Prof. said that there was a mucilage invasion in the Marmara Sea starting from a depth of 5 meters. Dr. Mustafa Sarı drew attention to the approaching disaster. Warning that “the mucilage at the bottom is gradually approaching the surface”, Prof. Dr. Sarı said: “If urgent measures are not taken, the mucilage will cover the entire Marmara Sea, from 5 meters to 25 meters deep, like a spider web within a few weeks. Unfortunately, industry continues to pollute the Marmara Sea. We only treat half of the waste. The remaining half is dumped into the sea without purification. The Marmara Sea has become a septic tank due to agricultural, domestic and maritime waste.“
THE SITUATION IS VERY SERIOUS
Sarı underlined that they detected mucilage at a depth of 10 to 15 meters in the dives they made in the last 3 weeks, and continued: “During our last dive on November 6, we saw that the mucilage went up to 5 meters. Urgent measures should be taken without wasting even a minute. All municipal and industrial facilities must make their treatment facilities operational. Industrial facilities do not treat their waste and spew poison. “Industrial facilities should be inspected and the heaviest criminal sanctions should be imposed on those who pollute the environment.”
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