Oxygen Levels in Turkey’s Marmara Sea Plummet, Threatening Marine Life
Oxygen levels in the Marmara Sea, located in northwestern Turkey, have significantly decreased beyond 30 meters, making it unsuitable for marine life, according to a report by Hürriyet Daily News on Wednesday. A study conducted by the Institute of Marine Sciences at Middle East Technical University revealed that oxygen levels at depths of 150 to 200 meters have reached critically low levels, which experts describe as being in “a state of coma.”
The report highlights the deteriorating condition of the Marmara Sea due to rising water temperatures, deoxygenation, and pollution, creating a vicious cycle that continues to worsen. Mustafa Yücel, deputy director of the institute, pointed out that nitrogen and phosphorus pollution levels are increasing, with water temperatures fluctuating 2 to 3 degrees Celsius above normal.
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Yücel warned that if this trend persists, it could result in a collapse of the marine nutrient system and food chain, leading to disastrous consequences for the region’s ecosystem.
In 2021, the Marmara Sea was hit by a major mucilage outbreak due to pollution, which further depleted oxygen levels and harmed marine life. The Marmara Sea is a critical inland waterway, connecting the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea via the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits, and is surrounded by densely populated areas with heavy industrial activity.
