PRESS RELEASE- FWC

With holiday celebrations and bowl games coming up, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is reminding event organizers and other Floridians that a little-known-law prohibits releasing more than nine lighter-than-air balloons within 24 hours.

Wildlife, especially sea turtles, mistake balloons for food, and strings attached to balloons can entangle birds and other animals.

The release into the atmosphere of large numbers of balloons inflated with lighter-than-air gases poses a danger and nuisance to the environment, particularly to wildlife and marine animals, according to Florida Statute 379.233. The law provides for a $250 fine for violations.

The only exceptions are for scientific or meteorological balloons released by a governmental agency or under a governmental contract, hot air balloons that are recovered after launching, and balloons released indoors. The law also allows for the release of balloons that are biodegradable or photodegradable under FWC rules, but no balloon material qualifies under FWC rules so far.