Balloon releases are a familiar ritual at weddings, memorials, graduations and everything in between these days, but they’re wreaking havoc on the habitats and health of our marine animal friends.
Of all the single-use plastics we use and consume, balloons are some of the easiest to give up. Stopping plastic pollution at its source is the best way to begin reducing ocean trash and protecting marine life worldwide.
With some 33 billion pounds of plastic entering the ocean each year, garbage patches have formed in just about every body of water across the world, from the Pacific to the Great Lakes.
According to the state of Florida, balloon debris is one of the top five most deadly forms of ocean garbage for marine creatures because they routinely mistake them for their favorite foods like jellyfish, causing completely needless deaths of sea turtles, seabirds, dolphins, whales, manatees, and more.
But as of this summer, they’re doing something about it.
The Florida state legislature has officially banned balloon releases of a single balloon or more for anyone over seven years old. Violators will be assessed a fine for breaking the new law.
Florida is home to many unique ecosystems, with over 10 million acres of wetlands, coastal landscapes, abundant marine life, and long-held traditions of conservation, fishing, boating, and spending time outdoors.
But at the same time, it’s one of the most popular states in the country to live — and to play. Florida saw an estimated 140 million vacationers in 2023 alone. That makes for a very real tension between animals, protecting the natural environment, and people developing land for personal and commercial use.
Ocean plastic is a significant long-term environmental problem, but it’s one that can be solved if we come at it from every angle possible. The end of massive balloon releases in Florida is a modest step in the right direction.
Steady on,
Rob
