| news@seacoastonline.com
HAMPTON — Releasing balloons at New Hampshire celebrations could lead to fines under a new state law aimed at reducing plastic pollution and protecting wildlife.
HB 387, which took effect in January, makes it a violation-level crime to intentionally release 20 or more balloons. First offenses result in a $250 fine, which increases to $500 for second and subsequent offenses. Environmental groups say the law is a meaningful step, although they believe it doesn’t go far enough.
“Anything that prevents balloon releases is always welcome,” said Jennifer Kennedy, executive director of the Blue Ocean Marine Conservation Society in Portsmouth. “But even 20 balloons is too many when you consider the negative effects on marine animals and humans.”
Balloon releases have long been used to mark celebrations, commemorations and awareness events, but research shows they pose significant risks. HB 387 itself states that balloons released into the atmosphere will eventually return to the ground as trash, where they can be swallowed or entangled by wildlife.
In the Gulf of Maine, animals such as whales, seals, seabirds, and sea turtles sometimes mistake balloons for food or become trapped in ribbons attached to balloons. For example, sea turtles often confuse balloons with jellyfish.
The Blue Ocean Society has documented the scale of this problem. During beach cleanups from Portland to Boston, volunteers collected 559 balloons in 2025 alone. During 629 whale-watching trips between 2022 and 2025, observers spotted 651 balloons floating offshore. In a 2014 case, Maine Marine Mammals found a balloon inside a stranded dolphin in York.
Balloons not only harm wildlife, but they also contribute to the growing microplastic problem. When balloons and their strings break, plastic debris and chemicals are released and enter the ocean food web, from plankton to shellfish to fish for human consumption.
Although some claim latex balloons are biodegradable, Kennedy points out that dyes and additives prevent the balloons from breaking down quickly. Also, many balloons fall to Earth before reaching the altitude at which they burst.
President Kennedy said, “Balloons may be a fun way to celebrate an event, but we don’t need legislation to make personal choices to protect the safety of marine life and ourselves.” She encourages eco-friendly alternatives such as planting trees and flowers and scattering native petals.
