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In Other News: Balloons Blow!
When our researchers are out on a survey, they’re predominantly looking for marine wildlife, and the UK’s waters provide ample sightings of seabirds, seals, cetaceans, and even the occasional shark or sea turtle, which make for a fun and fascinating trip.
What’s not a welcome sight is man-made rubbish floating on the surface (something we also record), and the extent of the issue was highlighted during last month’s Southampton–Santander trip, where our surveyor counted 35 balloons, with most (27) being in the English Channel.
The sad fact is, these balloons go on to harm marine life. The likes of sea turtles and beaked whales can mistake balloons for jellyfish or squid, filter-feeders, like basking sharks, could inadvertently scoop them up, and seabirds may get entangled in the string. All of which can then lead to a slow and painful death from starvation, internal injury, or drowning.
Helium balloons, like those pictured, are a huge problem, because when released, there’s no knowing where they'll end up, and even so-called biodegradable balloons can take months, if not years, to breakdown, and all the time they continue to pose a threat to land and marine wildlife.
So remember: Don't let go; balloons blow! Or even better, forgo balloons entirely when celebrating. Instead, plant a tree, seed some wildflowers, or make a donation to a favourite wildlife charity. All positive actions that will keep on giving for years to come.
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