“The Sea is Sick”: Alarming Signs on the Marmara Coast

Photo: The Marmara Project

Mudanya, Bursa — Along the shores of the Sea of Marmara, locals are using stark language to describe what they see. “Deniz hasta,” one resident repeated recently: “The sea is sick.” She pointed to the murky waters, the scum along the tide line, and warned of “microbes.” For people who have lived here their whole lives, the decline is impossible to ignore.

Recent visits to beaches in Bursa have revealed what many describe as a shoreline turned into a graveyard. Dead jellyfish, sea slugs, and sponges now dot the coast with disturbing regularity. Floating among them are mats of seaweed and mucilage—commonly referred to as “sea snot”—a thick organic matter that suffocates marine ecosystems when it blooms unchecked.

Even marine mammals are not spared. In recent years, dolphin strandings in the Marmara have become increasingly visible, a grim reminder of the pressures this inland sea is facing.

The Sea of Marmara once symbolized beauty and abundance. Its beaches are still considered some of the finest in Bursa, yet many residents now hesitate to enter the water. What was once a place of recreation has become a warning sign of ecological crisis.

Scientists point to a combination of pollution, climate change, and overfishing as major drivers behind the decline. While the Marmara is not the only sea under pressure, its unique geography—an enclosed basin connecting the Aegean and Black Seas—makes it especially vulnerable to stagnation and rising nutrient loads.

The growing chorus of voices calling the Marmara “sick” is more than a metaphor. It is an urgent call to recognize that what is happening here reflects larger trends across our oceans.

Photo: The Marmara Project

What Can Be Done?

The Sea of Marmara is showing us urgent signs of stress, but the story is not finished. Every observation—from washed-up jellyfish to changes in water clarity—helps researchers and communities better understand what is happening beneath the surface.

You can play a role in this work:

• Submit an observation report if you encounter unusual marine life, pollution, or signs of ecosystem change.

• Support our research through donations, which allow us to continue documenting and analyzing these shifts.

Together, we can build the knowledge needed to protect the Marmara and restore its resilience.