Inflated balloons have been found floating 250km off the east coast of Australia by CSIRO researchers.
The researchers, aboard CSIRO vessel RV Investigator, were observing sea birds and marine mammals when they came across two groups of party balloons.
Dr Eric Woehler, a researcher aboard the vessel, said when the balloons deflate, sea birds and turtles could mistake fragments of plastic for food.
He urged people to deflate and responsibly dispose of their balloons once they’re finished using them.