As we've been preparing this issue of (mt) to go to press, we've watched the situation in Turkey's Sea of Marmara with growing concern. The inland Marmara connects the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea, and the Marmara recently has had a flare-up of a problem called mucilage bloom-a sticky, slimy substance often referred to as "sea snot" that accumulates on the surface of the water. Some experts say the growth is caused by climate change and the dumping of untreated waste, and the huge increase in the stuff this year threatens the sea's ecosystem as it reportedly also accumulates on the sea floor. Cleanup crews have been working to gather and dispose of the sludgy substance, while the Turkish government has pledged to make the Marmara clean again. While those efforts get underway, we turn our focus on the larger Mediterranean region, exploring shipbuilding and offshore facilities production in a part of the world known for its incredible natural beauty.
展开▼
