# Balloons danger to marine wildlife

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2006/09/12/balloons-danger-marine-wildlife/
- Published: 2006-09-12T23:00:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has launched a new awareness campaign to highlight
the dangers of balloon releases for marine wildlife.

The Don’t Let Go campaign discourages balloon releases and suggests more environmentally-
friendly ways of using balloons.

Mass balloon releases have been banned by authorities worldwide, including some 
British councils, but MCS receives a number of calls each year from members of the
public worried about the effects of local balloon releases. The charity says that
surveys reveal the number of balloons and balloon pieces on Britain’s beaches has
almost tripled over the last 10 years. Marine turtles and seabirds are most at risk
as they feed on prey that floats at the surface – balloons can look very like jellyfish
to a hungry seagull.

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The RSPB has also urged people not to use balloons or anything containing string
or plastics for fundraising events as they are likely to damage birdlife as well–
particularly water fowl who can get string wrapped around their legs, become trapped
and drown.

There is a free pack available from MCS which includes posters, factsheets, leaflets
and postcards to encourage awareness of the impacts of balloon releases on marine
wildlife and alternative events using balloons without releasing them.

 

_Photo: [blue balloon](http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-923899/stock-photo-blue-balloon.html)
by Lori Sparkia on Shutterstock.com_

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