In Florida, celebrate without releasing balloons. That’s the law

Unusual snow in Pensacola, Tallahassee and other parts of North Florida has long been gone. The perfect weather on the postcard is back in Sunshine State with outdoor weddings, birthday parties and annual spring events. Thankfully, this is the first time spring has been in the air, and outdoor fun is on the cloudless horizon of balloons.

For generations it has been a tradition to release balloons in the air to mark an important day like a wedding or birthday. People have empty balloons in the sky to mark the sad streets of their loved ones and to celebrate the happy birth of a new baby.

No matter what important reason to let go of balloons, one thing is inevitable. They need to rise and come down, and those balloons end up in our oceans, lagoons, bays, and even inland forests and Everglades.

Balloons can have a major impact on ecosystems and wild creatures. Ocean Conservancy found that nearly one seabird died in three seabirds whose balloon ingestion was consumed even one balloon. Balloons have been found in the stomachs of manatees who have died in Florida in recent years, and balloon debris are often found in the digestive tract of other marine mammals, turtles and fish.

This spring is different. At the 2024 legislative conference, Ocean Conservancy worked with conservation allies across Florida to R-ST. Senator Nick Dice Glee of Pete Beach and R-Indian Rocks Beach to ensure a ban on intentional release of balloons into the Florida environment. And we ultimately strived to persuade Governor Ron DeSantis to make the common sense decision to sign the bill into law. The law, which took effect in July, definitely protects countless balloons from our oceans and beaches. That’s something every Floridian should praise.

As Florida’s idyllic weather returns, beaches and parks will reopen after a devastating hurricane. It’s time to bring our family gatherings and celebrations outside again. But don’t forget that there are many other ways you can celebrate while showing love to the Florida environment without releasing balloons. you can:

Host coastal cleanups so that your family and friends can make a difference to the beaches in Florida you love. Ocean Conservancy has resources at www.signuptocleanup.org, which can be used to organize your cleanup. You can also download the Clean Swell app to report any garbage you have picked up. Working with beautiful local Keep Florida affiliates or other local conservation groups, plant native plants such as slash pine, oaks, sheep grapes and mangroves, and invade Brazilian pepper and rosaryopia from the local ecosystem. Remove the plants.Plant scattered flower petals, or even better, Florida wild flowers like Indian blankets and yellow buttons that can be found at local plant nursery throughout the state.Spend your time enjoying the authentic Florida. Our incredible beaches, our enthusiasm of seas and shores, our iconic everglades, our jeweled springs, our glorious coral reefs.

One of these ideas brings together family and friends to enjoy the outdoors, and celebrate important life events without releasing balloons. There was a historic moment in the snow. So let’s enjoy everything Florida has to offer in a creative way that projects our precious environment.

John Paul “JP” Brooker is Florida Conservation Director for Ocean Conservancy. He lives in St. Petersburg