Party balloons risking sea life as they drift from Herm to Jersey

Thursday 10 January 2019

Bailiwick seal watchers were dismayed to see a photo they had taken of basking seals near Herm featured discarded plastic party balloons - and they've now drifted even further.

A photo shared to a Guernsey beach combing group on Facebook showed the large bunch of blue and white balloons just beyond a group of seals on Amphroque Rock north of Herm Island, and they appear to have been picked up the next day in Jersey.

Pictured: Seals and balloons spotted at Amphroque rock near Herm

Passengers at sea with Out of the Blue boat tours at the weekend saw a number of seals  on Amphroque Rock north of Herm Island. Along with them though was a bunch of blue and white balloons, leading one of the passengers to ask to '#bantheballoon'.

"Lovely photo of the seals right on our doorstep, so sad that we notice the balloons first. Lets hope they dont end up in the wildlife, #bantheballoon" she said on a popular local Facebook page. 

By Sunday a strikingly similar set of balloons washed up on Grève de Lecq bay in Jersey, some 30km away. 

General manager of the GSPCA Steve Byrne said the non-biodegradable plastics could pose a serious threat to local wildlife.

"This has been the busiest year we have seen in over a decade rescuing seal pups at the GSPCA. It is not an easy life being a seal or pup and litter can pose them and other wildlife a real risk.

"From the turtles we have rescued to sea birds plastic bags and litter can cause them a real risk to their life from a choking hazard to suffocating them. We strive to reduce our waste and recycle at the GSPCA as we see first hand the life threatening problems litter can put at risk our wildlife.

"It is amazing to see how many islanders help to keep our beaches and coast clean and we all have to do all we can not only so we can enjoy the shores but also to keep our wildlife safe.

"Balloons can pose a real risk as once deflated wildlife that consume jellyfish often mistake the balloons as their prey, which can then get caught in their digestive system and in extreme cases be fatal.

"It is wonderful to see so many pictures of seals and pups but seeing the balloons in the background really hits at home the impact the human species effect and problems we are putting on our natural world," he said. 

Pictured top: The journey the balloons have made.