Palm Beach County and Loggerhead Marinelife Center have collaborated to ban balloons from 11 local beachfront parks in an effort to help keep sea turtles safe. Afterall, this area is a haven for sea turtles to nest, particularly for the endangered Loggerhead. As we are in the middle of nesting season, the ban is just in time. Loggerhead Marinelife Center teams have cleaned more than 1,000 balloons off of Juno Beach alone. Balloons are dangerous to sea turtles because they can be mistaken for a jellyfish- the Loggerhead's favorite snack. The balloon strings can also entangle the turtles. 

 

 

Loggerhead Marinelife Center has teamed up with precincts spanning across 130 miles of the south Florida coastline to ban balloons. Eleven beachfront parks will have Palm Beach County Park Rangers enforcing the new rule. So as of September 1st, if you're going to have a birthday party near the beach, remember balloons are no longer allowed. Here is a list of the parks where the ban will be enforced for the safety of sea turtles and other marine life alike:

 

-Carlin Park, Jupiter

-DuBois Park, Jupiter

-Gulfstream Park, Gulfstream

-Juno Beach Park, Juno Beach

-Jupiter Beach Park, Jupiter

-Loggerhead Park, Juno Beach

-Ocean Cay Park, Jupiter

-Ocean Inlet Park, Ocean Ridge

-Ocean Reef Park, Riviera Beach

-Peanut Island Park, Riviera Beach

-South Inlet Park, Boca Raton