Red algae sign of pollution in Marmara Sea: Expert

The red algae washed up on shores of Istanbul's Anatolian side is a sign of increasing pollution in the Marmara Sea, an expert has said.
"Algae piling up due to decreased oxygen levels with the effect of the dumped waste reveals the alarming pollution in the Marmara Sea," said Meriç Albay, Dean of Istanbul University's Faculty of Aquatic Sciences.
"It proves that waste is still being dumped into the sea. Water and sea temperatures above the seasonal normal levels have lowered the rate of water cycling [in the sea] in this year. With the effects of pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorus, these factors open the door to increasing amount of algae," he added.
They have taken samples of the red algae to examine in the laboratory, he said.
The teams of Istanbul Municipality rapidly started working to remove the washed-up algae on the coastline.
"Rotted red algae can cause zonal deprivation of oxygen. Thus, the piled-up algae should be removed under control," said Albay.
Strong southern Lodos winds generally affects the shores on the Anatolian side of the metropolis with sea waves as high as three meters washing the seaside parks and walking trails. When the weather calms down, materials including algae blanket the coastline, which includes three public beaches.
The red algae, thought to be of Gracilaria and Gelidium genus, has also frightened residents living near the Caddebostan coastline in the districts of Kadıköy and Maltepe.
"Every year, Lodos winds hit here from November until March. It repeats three or four times in a year. When the wind speed reaches 100 kilometers per hour, it fills this area with algae," said Zafer Karaboğa, a local resident.
"I regularly go for a walk here. I have never seen such a scene before....