Sea Beyond Foundation

05/30/2026

Congratulations to Louisiana!

Released balloons don’t just “disappear.” They fall back to Earth as litter, often landing in oceans, forests, and neighborhoods. Wildlife can mistake them for food or become entangled in strings and ribbons, leading to injury or death. Even biodegradable balloons can take months (or longer) to break down — causing harm in the meantime.

For more information about the Sea Beyond Foundation and to sign the “Balloons Blow” petition for South Carolina, please visit https://www.sea-beyond.org/balloons

Outdoor balloon releases will be illegal in this state starting in August

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we remember and honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Please take time to pause in remembrance of our fallen heroes who served our nation.

As we gather with family and friends to celebrate our freedoms, let's also protect the beautiful landscapes they fought for.

Balloons released into the sky often return as dangerous litter, threatening local wildlife and our oceans. This year, celebrate responsibly.

Keep your celebrations grounded and honor our heroes with eco-friendly traditions:
🌸 Plant a native tree or flower
🫧 Blow bubbles instead of releasing balloons
♻️ Securely tie down any party decorations

Here’s a great resource explaining where do balloons go? https://balloonmission.org/

05/23/2026

🌎🐢 May 23 is World Turtle Day! 🐢🌎
Celebrated every year since 2000 by American Tortoise Rescue, this day shines a light on the beauty, importance, and urgent need to protect turtles and tortoises—and the habitats they depend on to survive.
💡 Did you know?
A balloon drifting in the ocean looks almost identical to a jellyfish. For sea turtles, that’s a deadly mistake. What goes up doesn’t disappear—it comes back down as harmful marine debris, often ending up in the stomachs of the very wildlife we’re trying to protect.
💙 Let’s celebrate differently.
Honor the day with acts of kindness, conservation, and care for our oceans—skip the balloon release and choose safer, meaningful alternatives instead.
https://worldturtleday.org/

05/18/2026

Great data to share!

05/15/2026

Small habits today help protect the places we love tomorrow.

05/12/2026

Congratulations to Connecticut!!

Great news for the CT environment! After many attempts over the years blocked by the balloon lobby, finally on May 5th the CT legislature passed a balloon bill to prohibit the release of any helium balloons. It is an infraction with a $20 penalty. This replaces a previous law that applied to ten or more balloons within a 24-hour period. Additionally, the new law mandates that any retailer selling such balloons must ensure a weight is attached to prevent them from rising into the air. Violating these provisions will be considered an infraction. The bill takes effect October 2026. Friends of Animals based in CT will be doing an educational awareness campaign this summer about this law.

This makes Connecticut the sixth state to ban balloon releases after Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware.

Balloons and their ribbons are non-biodegradable dangerous litter that kills turtles, fish, birds & other wildlife. Animals mistake deflated balloons for food, and it can block their digestive tracts and lead to starvation. Ribbons can wrap around animals, causing injury, restricting movement, or strangulation.

If you hear about an upcoming balloon release, contact your local police who can enforce this in town parks, state police in state parks, Dept. or Consumer Protection in balloon stores, or write to the group yourself telling them about the law. Then on the day of the event, contact the police again saying balloons are being released in violation of CT law. More details - https://tinyurl.com/yfu8a62e

05/10/2026

To all moms teaching the next generation to protect our oceans… thank you.

05/07/2026

Thank you, Mayor Baldwin, and City of NMB for your leadership. We can only hope other local municipalities commit to fighting litter and pollution and protecting our oceans like you do. And to those who complain about it, you brought this problem on yourself by not picking up your butts.  Ci******es and plastic cigar tips consistently lead in the number one item found on Beach cleanups. 

Leaders in North Myrtle Beach have moved to ban smoking on public beaches.

05/05/2026

Join us for an evening combining art and activism!

Come see artist Mary Edna Fraser, videographer Cori McIntyre, and North Coast Office Director for the Coastal Conservation League Becky Ryon on May 14th at the Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum for a special art and film presentation about the Waccamaw River and its neighboring rural and historic communities at risk from the SC-22 Extension and how you can help save them. Free with light refreshments provided!

See you there!