OK, this is going to be a bit of a rant. This year we have been picking up lots of balloons on the island. We don’t keep count at the moment but it seems more than previous years. These balloons are not just unsightly litter but are deadly with it. The membranes can be eaten by marine mammals, they can tangle up with seabirds and the tough ribbons that are tidied on are even worse at tangling up and killing seabirds.
Here is just a few of the balloons pick up, the McDonald’s Happy Meals have been the most common but we have also had them from the Loch Fyne seafood and grill and even the NSPCC.
There are 2 types of balloons that have made it across to the island. There is the more traditional latex type that manufacturers claim are biodegradable so are not a problem. The Marine Conservation Society did an experiment with one of these latex balloons and found that after 180 days the balloon was still intact enough to cause a hazard to wildlife. The other type are the foil-like mylar metalised ones that are filled with helium Though they are recyclable this isn’t much good when let loose on the coast and end up at sea. These are even more of a hazard to wildlife because they don’t break down naturally.
This type of rubbish is a classic example of people having a little bit of fun but not thinking or caring about the possible consequences. So please just don’t use balloons but find another way to celebrate, if you are a charity don’t use balloons for fundraising or if you have to have balloons just don’t let go.
STOP PRESS
Very topical but harmful, this balloon blew into the harbour last night and was collected just before it made it into the tern colony. If it had then it would have caused a lot of disturbance and stopped chicks from being fed.
More information on the problem of balloon pollution
End of rant.
Isle of May National Nature Reserve 