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Skipper’s Corner: The Hidden Cost of Balloons
July 15, 2025 | By: Steff Ruf
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Guest post by Skipper Emma Janson
When you think of balloons, what do you think of? I’d bet most people think of a party or celebration, like a birthday, with balloons in different colors and sizes, decorating a table or space, bringing the party to life. After all, balloons are meant to be fun, right?
After ten years as a sailing instructor, spending summers on the water coaching, I have a different association. When I think of balloons, I picture a half-deflated one, faded, floating aimlessly on the water’s surface, its string tangled, drifting with the tide. Or I see a spec of color wedged between rocks along the shoreline, standing out from its natural surroundings. To me, balloons are marine debris.
Last summer alone, while coaching in July, I spotted more than 35 balloons on the water. By the end of the season, I had seen at least 50, either floating or stuck in rocks. These were remnants of people’s celebrations—some from graduation parties or birthdays, and many from the Fourth of July. Oftentimes we’d find whole bouquets still tied together, drifting as a tangled, waterlogged group.
The environmental impact of balloons is significant. Mylar balloons never biodegrade, and latex ones, made from rubber, can take up to four years to break down, and that’s if conditions are just right. Even partially degraded balloons are a problem. Marine animals can mistake them for food, leading to blockages in their digestive tracts. And the strings pose a major entanglement risk to marine life. The whimsy quickly disappears when you understand what balloons do to our coastal environments.
Of the balloons on the water and on the shoreline last summer, we were able to retrieve and properly dispose of about half to two-thirds. We’d grab them from our powerboats and use sightings as an opportunity to educate our sailors about their impact on marine environments. We were seeing so many balloons that it actually became somewhat of a game between coaches and sailors to see who could bring the most balloons back to the dock by the end of class. It was disheartening to see so much debris, but it was hopeful to watch young sailors become stewards of their waterways.
We were able to turn trash in the waters into an educational opportunity and will continue to do so when balloons inevitably appear this summer. Beyond empowering individual sailors to do the right thing, Sailors for the Sea Powered by Oceana is also pushing for change at a higher level. In Florida, Oceana successfully advocated for a bipartisan law banning the intentional release of balloons, helping to prevent one of the deadliest forms of plastic pollution for marine animals like sea turtles and seabirds.
With education and policy change, we can rid our waters of this worn out party trick. What balloons add to a celebration is not worth the cost of the marine debris they too often become.
Read about Oceana’s victory in helping ban intentional balloon releases in Florida, and urge your elected officials to protect our oceans, climate, and communities from plastic pollution by signing our petition here.
