‘How Easily Litter Ends Up’ In Malta’s Marine Environment

Taking to social media, Raniero Borg shared a video of a foil helium balloon drifting out to sea over St Paul’s Bay.

Raniero said that this should serve as reminder of how easily litter finds its way into our marine environment.

‘What may seem like an innocent celebration item can quickly become a deadly hazard once it escapes into nature.’

‘Foil balloons, often coated in metallic plastic (mylar) like this blue one, does not biodegrade. Once they descend into the sea, they pose multiple risks.’

These include entanglement and ingestion by marine animals as well as long term pollution.

‘A simple but effective step is to avoid releasing balloons altogether and opt for sustainable alternatives like reusable decorations, bubbles, or biodegradable paper streamers. What drifts away into the sky always comes back down – too often into the sea.’

#MaltaDaily