Marine charity calls on government to ban Chinese lanterns

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) wants to see a ban on the manufacture, sale and release of Chinese lanterns in the UK.

The move comes shortly after it was revealed that Spain had become the latest in a number of countries banning the sale and use of the lanterns.

There are already bans or restrictions in Germany, Austria, Australia, Malta and Vietnam. MCS is supported in its call for action on lanterns in Britain by the RNLI and the NFU.

The lanterns, increasingly used in place of balloons, can be made of various materials including bamboo, oiled rice paper and wire. They contribute to rising litter levels, and pose a potential threat to marine species, from turtles to whales.

Emma Snowden, MCS Litter Campaigns Officer, says the problem is that people have no idea of the damage the lanterns can do.

She said: “The turn of the year saw increasing numbers of lanterns released in celebration and the forthcoming Diamond Jubilee and Olympics could see unprecedented numbers lit and let go.

“These mobile fireballs have to come down somewhere, and it’s often on farmland or out at sea. We have received reports of numerous false alarms for the Coastguard and RNLI after people have seen them over the sea and mistaken them for flares.”

RNLI’s Head of Fleet Operations Hugh Fogarty said there had been a “significant increase” in the number of lifeboat callouts to false alarms caused by Chinese lanterns in 2010.

The original Chinese lanterns were not designed to be airborne.

Keep up with all the latest diving-related news and reviews by following Sport Diver on Facebook.