Don’t Let Go! – The Dangers of Balloon Releases

8th November 2006 

Cornwall Wildlife Trust has had three reports within the last month of dead turtles found around the coast of Cornwall.  While the cause of these specific deaths is unknown, it highlights the danger to sea life of marine litter and in particular, balloon releases.  The Trust is urging people not to organise or take part in balloon releases and suggests more environmentally friendly ways of making that statement.

Turtle photograph by Jayne Herbert

Ruth Williams, Marine Conservation Officer for the Trust explains, “Following an article in the West Briton on 2nd November detailing a balloon release to promote the Poppy Appeal, we felt we had to make it clear how damaging these events can be.  Without wishing to take anything away from the poignancy of the occasion, balloon releases can be lethal to marine wildlife.  As such we have come up with some more wildlife friendly alternatives.”

Balloon litter floating at sea is known to be deadly for many marine wildlife species.  Marine turtles and seabirds are particularly at risk, as they feed on prey that floats at the surface.  They may mistake floating balloons for their jellyfish prey and swallow them, or become entangled in the attached ribbons and drown.  Once swallowed, a balloon will block the digestive tract and eventually lead to death by starvation.  Other species, such as some whales, dolphins and fish are also known to have died as a result of eating balloons. 

Mass balloon releases have been banned by some authorities around the world, including some UK councils but locally balloon releases are still allowed to go ahead.

Despite the increase in public awareness of the harm balloons can have on wildlife, marine litter surveys conducted annually by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) have revealed that the number of balloons and balloon pieces on Britain's beaches has almost tripled over the last 10 years.

Litter from a turtles stomach - shows an assortment of plastic pieces
removed from a leatherback turtle which was found dead on rocks at Wigton,
Scotland in 1998. Photograph Peter Richardson, MCS.

Most balloons are made from biodegradable latex, which degrades on exposure to air.  A balloon industry-funded study concluded that latex balloons degrade at a rate similar to an oak leaf and cease to pose a threat at about 6 months.  However, further studies indicate that balloons floating in seawater deteriorate at a much slower rate, with some balloons retaining their elasticity after 12 months.  However long it might take for balloons to degrade, they can certainly stay intact in an animal's gut long after ingestion, and long enough to cause death by starvation.

Ruth continued, "We know released balloons can kill wildlife.  By all means celebrate with balloons, but please don’t let go of them outdoors, and dispose of them responsibly.  Instead of releasing balloons why not try a different way to mark the occasion such as prize balloon popping or balloon art!  Visit the MCS website for more ideas on www.mcsuk.org.  But please do your bit to help look after our turtles and other marine life".

Please report any live sightings of marine life to Seaquest Southwest on 01872 273939 or via our website www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/nature/marine/record. 
Dead strandings should be reported immediately to the Trust’s Marine Stranding hotline on 0845 201 2626.