An order from the prefect of Alpes-Maritimes now prohibits the release of balloons and lanterns, especially for environmental reasons.
As poetic as it is, the release of balloons and lanterns will now be banned on the Côte d'Azur. As noted Nice-Matin , the prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes, Bernard Gonzalez, took a decree to this effect Wednesday, October 2.
It justifies it by "the need to achieve the objective of good ecological status of marine waters by 2020" . Indeed, the dispersion of balloons in the wild would have "harmful consequences" and cause in particular the "excess mortality of certain marine species" .
According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), "balloons are in the top 10 recreational waste found on the coast . "
Risks to air navigation
Asked by Nice-Matin , GREEN association sees "a strong signal, proof of awareness. One ball less, maybe it's a forest fire avoided, or a dolphin that will not be found stranded on a beach ... " .
According to the newspaper, the decree also concerns the release of sky lanterns, otherwise known as "Chinese lanterns" which generate "a risk of fire" because of their candle.
These objects also pose a risk to air navigation. In 2014, the prefect of Ille-et-Vilaine issued a decree prohibiting lanterns on municipalities located within eight kilometers of Rennes / Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande aerodromes; Dinard-Pleurtuit; Redon / Bains-sur-Oust and Saint-Sulpice-des-Landes.
The prefects of Bouches-du-Rhone and Saone-et-Loire have also already adopted similar prohibition orders.
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The prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes prohibits the release of balloons and lanternsOuest-France.frENLARGE
