TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Sea turtles, seabirds and children under the age of 7 will be protected under a new Florida law that bans the intentional release of balloons.
The law, signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday, replaces a current ban on releasing more than 10 balloons in a 24-hour period. The state Legislature approved the bill with bipartisan support in March, and environmentalists have praised it.
“Balloons are one of the most dangerous ocean plastics for major wildlife species and the most dangerous plastic debris for seabirds, and Florida’s new law will help save marine life from these preventable deaths,” said Hunter Miller, Florida director for Oceana, a Washington-based environmental group.
The law doesn’t apply to children under the age of 7. Anyone else who intentionally releases a single balloon can be fined for littering. The new law also removes the exemption for biodegradable balloons. Governor DeSantis signed the bill behind closed doors and did not issue a statement.
A bill analysis prepared for lawmakers noted that balloon releases are common at weddings, funerals, sporting events, graduations and a variety of other celebratory occasions.
The balloon launches have been met with growing environmentalist opposition, following efforts to restrict the use of plastic bags and straws. The Florida Legislature has previously prohibited local governments from banning plastic bags. In 2019, Governor DeSantis vetoed a bill that would have temporarily blocked local governments from banning plastic straws.
Florida is a large peninsula that is nowhere more than 60 miles (97 kilometers) from the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico. Balloons can remain afloat for several days, but winds and currents can carry them far from the initial release point.
When the balloons deflate and fall, sea turtles mistake them for jellyfish, their favorite food. Marine animals like birds, manatees, and whales also eat the balloons, but they can block their digestive tract and cause them to starve to death.
“Balloon litter thrown into waters impacts more than 260 species worldwide and is among the five most dangerous types of marine debris in terms of the risks they pose to marine life,” the legislative analysis said, adding that animals can also become entangled in balloon strings.
