Mucilage-Free Marmara

BASIC CITY DATA

· Population size: 15907951

· Population Growth Rate(%): 0.42

· Surface Area (sq. km): 5461

· Population Density (people/sq.km): 3062

· GDP Per Capita (U.S.$): 15666

· GINI Index: 0.45

· URL/Webpage of your local government and your initiative: https://www.ibb.istanbul/

· https://cevre.ibb.istanbul/deniz-hizmetleri-sube-mudurlugu/

· Main Source of Prosperity (e.g. industry, trade, tourism, creative industry, etc.): Trade

ABSTRACT

Mucilage is an exopolymer organic substance that occurs in the marine environment due to the overgrowth of a type of sea algae. Extreme blooms of algae are often triggered by rising seawater temperatures and human-induced pressures such as domestic and industrial wastes, insufficient treatment levels, and excessive fishing. In semi-enclosed seas such as The Sea of Marmara. In 2021 The Sea of Marmara is filled for months with mucilage that clogs the networks of fishers, suffocates marine life, and threatens tourism and the economy. Although the mucilage did not occur in the Sea of Marmara for the first time, nor is the occurrence unique to the area, it is thought to be one of the worst mucilage outbreaks ever. Mucilage, which has reached the size of a disaster in the Sea of Marmara; caused a serious indignation in the society and was collected from the sea surface with the special works and eliminated by an innovative solution carried out within the scope of the project.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION 

The works carried out within the scope of the project are carried out within the framework of the following legal and/or policy; UN Sustainable Development Goals / Goal 14 Life Blow Water - 6. Clean Water and Sanitation and 17. Partnerships Goals Marine Litter Provincial Action Plan Preparation and Implementation Circular / Implementation of Marmara Sea Action Plan / Marmara Sea Integrated Strategic Plan 2021-2024 / Marmara Sea Establishment of the Action Plan Coordination Board.

ORIGINS

Mucilage pollution not only threatens human and public health, and living life but also negatively affects marine life and marine ecosystems, making the use of seas unsuitable. Mucilage, which has reached the size of a disaster in the Sea of Marmara; caused a serious outrage in the society. Due to the mucous layer of the mucilage, the equipment used in the sea surface cleaning work was insufficient, and new techniques and methods were applied for both collecting and disposal.

In order to eliminate the mucilage problem that threatens life in the Sea of Marmara, a quick and immediate solution was required. With this project, there has been a policy and strategy change specific to the Sea of Marmara, as well as changes in the business model related to the cleaning of the sea. In addition, to ensure the protection and sustainability of the sea, The Sea of Marmara Integrated Strategic Plan and Protection Action Plan have been issued and started to be implemented. It started in March 2021 and ended with the removal and disposal of mucilage from the Sea of Marmara on 06/07/2021

Within the scope of the project, cleaning works related to mucilage were carried out with 13 mobile teams consisting of 70 personnel, 7 sea surface cleaning boats, 1 drager, 1 dump ship, 11 vacuum trucks, 2 tugboats, and barriers. Techniques and equipment used in the Project for the first time provided fast and effective results in the collecting of mucilage from the sea surface. In addition, mucilage collected from the sea surface was dewatered and disposed of in the created lagoon. By adding EM Microbial consortium to the dewatered mucilage, biodegradation was accelerated and the damage to the soil was minimized. This highly effective and innovative method has been used for the first time, minimizing the harm that mucilage could cause to the environment and ecosystem. After the mucilage was seen on the surface of the Marmara Sea, meetings were held by the relevant units of our Municipality, and the cleaning works were started quickly. All institutions/organizations related to the increase of mucilage on the sea surface and reaching disaster size have been vigilant and task sharing has been made under the coordination of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. In regions where mucilage, has reached the size of a disaster, cleaning works are carried out continuously by our shore teams (on the European Side of Turkey-Istanbul; Violet Channel, Yenikapı Limanici and Samatya regions, on the Anatolian side; Kurbağalıdere, Caddebostan Beach, Maltepe Küçükyalı, Pendik and Tuzla).

As a municipality, a great contribution has been made to the works, 7 days and 24 hours, day and night, and as a result, the risk of mucilage has been removed from the sea surface. Combating the mucilage has yielded significant results. The Bosphorus and its surroundings, one of the most important waterways of the world, have been entirely cleared of mucilage.

Within the scope of the project, T.C. Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, İSTON (İstanbul Concrete Elements Corporation), İSTAÇ (Istanbul Environment Management Company), General Directorate of İSKİ (Istanbul Water and Sewage Administration) other relevant units of the Municipality and NGOs took an active role. The work was expanded under the coordination of the Ministry with the inclusion of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, and was completed with the joint work of different institutions/organizations. The method of disposing of mucilage with vacuum pumps used by our municipality has set an example for other institutions/organizations and they have tried to apply the same method.

All relevant units of the municipality are included in the project. In this context, 13 mobile teams consisting of 70 personnel, 7 sea surface cleaning boats, 1 drager, 1 Dump Ship, 11 vacuum trucks, and 2 tugboats were used and barriers were built.

INNOVATIVE ASPECTS

One of the methods applied within the scope of this project, the collection of mucilage from the sea surface with vacuum trucks was carried out for the first time and it was a revolutionary application. In other routinely applied methods of sea surface cleaning, mucilage was applied by adapting it to cleaning work. By adding EM Microbial consortium to the dewatered mucilage, biodegradation was accelerated and the damage to the soil was minimized. This highly effective and innovative method has been used for the first time, minimizing the harm that mucilage can cause to the environment and ecosystem.

DESIRED CHANGE OR OUTCOME

The mucilage seen in the Sea of Marmara has been completely removed from the sea surface. The continuity of life in the Sea of Marmara has been ensured and contribution has been made to the marine ecosystem. The suspended fishing activities were resumed. The indignation in the society has been eliminated. The cleaning work has been a role model. Nationally and regionally, the environmental disaster has been eliminated.

In the Marmara Sea, the team calculates the amount of mucilage (kg) collected from the sea surface. These calculations were carried out by the technical personnel, academicians, and personnel of the relevant institutions/organizations working within the scope of the project.

Innovative methods used in the cleaning works carried out within the scope of the project were applied in all places where mucilage was observed in the Marmara Sea.

The risk of mucilage, which has reached the level of disaster, directly affects 6 million people who are actively involved in the marine ecosystem (those who live on the coastline in Istanbul, fishermen, ship transporters, those working in the shipyards area, etc.) and 15,907,951 million citizens living in Istanbul, according to TUIK 2022 data. 50% of the citizens living in Istanbul are women and 50% are men, and the child population is 13,17% of the total population, the young population corresponds to 15.6 percent of the total population, 6 million 647.265 of the young population are men and 6.308.407 are women.

RELEVANCE TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable

development

Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for

Sustainable Development