Antonia Noori Farzan07:01, May 27 2021
Lokman Akkaya/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Scientists say that the unpleasant-looking mucus isn't a new phenomenon, but rising water temperatures caused by global warming may be making it worse.
For months, Turkish fishermen in the Sea of Marmara have been running into a problem: They can't catch fish.
That's because a thick, viscous substance known colloquially as "sea snot" is floating on the water's surface, clogging up their nets and raising doubts about whether fish found in the inland sea would actually be safe to eat.
Scientists say that the unpleasant-looking mucus isn't a new phenomenon, but rising water temperatures caused by global warming may be making it worse. Pollution - including agricultural and raw sewage runoff - is also to blame.