Turkish workers on Tuesday (June 8) were clearing the Sea of Marmara near Istanbul of a thick layer of sludge known as "sea snot."

The slimy substance, which scientist call marine mucilage, is made of compounds released by algae.

According to scientists, this year's outbreak is the worst on record and has been exacerbated by climate change and pollution.

The blanket of slime suffocates marine life and there are already reports of large numbers of dead fish and molluscs in the area.

shows the cleaning of mucilage covering the surface of the Sea of Marmara on the Turkish coast of Istanbul on June 8, 2021. In line with the work initiated by public institutions and municipalities for the "Marmara Sea Action Plan", which was put into effect with the decision taken by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, mucilage began to be collected from the sea.

shows the cleaning of mucilage covering the surface of the Sea of Marmara on the Turkish coast of Istanbul on June 8, 2021. In line with the work initiated by public institutions and municipalities for the "Marmara Sea Action Plan", which was put into effect with the decision taken by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, mucilage began to be collected from the sea.

shows the cleaning of mucilage covering the surface of the Sea of Marmara on the Turkish coast of Istanbul on June 8, 2021. In line with the work initiated by public institutions and municipalities for the "Marmara Sea Action Plan", which was put into effect with the decision taken by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, mucilage began to be collected from the sea.

shows the cleaning of mucilage covering the surface of the Sea of Marmara on the Turkish coast of Istanbul on June 8, 2021. In line with the work initiated by public institutions and municipalities for the "Marmara Sea Action Plan", which was put into effect with the decision taken by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, mucilage began to be collected from the sea.

shows the cleaning of mucilage covering the surface of the Sea of Marmara on the Turkish coast of Istanbul on June 8, 2021. In line with the work initiated by public institutions and municipalities for the "Marmara Sea Action Plan", which was put into effect with the decision taken by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, mucilage began to be collected from the sea.

shows the cleaning of mucilage covering the surface of the Sea of Marmara on the Turkish coast of Istanbul on June 8, 2021. In line with the work initiated by public institutions and municipalities for the "Marmara Sea Action Plan", which was put into effect with the decision taken by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, mucilage began to be collected from the sea.

shows the cleaning of mucilage covering the surface of the Sea of Marmara on the Turkish coast of Istanbul on June 8, 2021. In line with the work initiated by public institutions and municipalities for the "Marmara Sea Action Plan", which was put into effect with the decision taken by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, mucilage began to be collected from the sea.

shows the cleaning of mucilage covering the surface of the Sea of Marmara on the Turkish coast of Istanbul on June 8, 2021. In line with the work initiated by public institutions and municipalities for the "Marmara Sea Action Plan", which was put into effect with the decision taken by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, mucilage began to be collected from the sea.