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Carly Wilson on a mission to ban a ritual devastating beaches and marine life
She has called for the end of releasing helium balloons during celebrations
Burst balloons bear a resemblance to jellyfish and are deadly, the mother said
She created environmental documentary Rubber Jellyfish to raise awareness

By Kylie Stevens For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 03:29 EST, 13 November 2018 | Updated: 03:54 EST, 13 November 2018

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A mum is on a mission to ban a popular ritual she says is devastating our beaches and marine life.

Carly Wilson, from the Gold Coast, has called for people to stop releasing helium balloons during weddings, funerals, birthdays and other celebrations, amid claims they have a devastating impact on the ocean.

When the balloons eventually burst, the latex pieces often end up bearing a similar resemblance to jellyfish, which can be deadly to sea birds and turtles who mistake them for food.

Ms Wilson recently created environmental documentary 'Rubber Jellyfish' to spread her message.

Carly Wilson (pictured) has called for the popular ritual of releasing helium balloons to stop

'I think they will when they realise and find out that balloons actually post into jellyfish shaped like this,' Ms Wilson told Sunrise.

'They do not biodegrade like the industry claims. People are willing to find a different party decoration.'

Her documentary follows the journey of the mum to be as she learns about the harrowing affect balloons have on sea turtles.

Ms Wilson was pregnant with her first child when she first began researching the problem.

The documentary will be screened at a number of cinemas across Australia in the coming weeks, including The Entrance on the NSW Central Coast, Cronulla in Sydney's south and the seaside Perth suburb of Fremantle.

Carly (pictured) appeared on Sunrise on Tuesday to call on people to find alternative party decorations

Burst balloons end up in the shape of jellyfish, which can be deadly for marine life

Hundreds of birds and marine animals die each year because of a few seconds of fun

Ms Wilson described industry claims that latex balloons biodegrade as 'baloney' and urged people to do their research.

'There are people in the balloon industry who are trying to stop the deliberate release of balloons but there are other balloon stores and manufacturers that still recommend people do those balloon release ceremonies,' she told Sunrise.

'The idea they are 'safe' for the environment comes from one study completed in the 80s that's based on no scientific backing. It wasn't even peer reviewed,' she told Daily Mail Australia earlier this year.

'Once they enter the atmosphere they burst into a shape that looks very similar to a jellyfish - so when they come back down to the ground, and ultimately end up in the water, sea turtles and other wildlife eat them believing they're squid.'

'They do not biodegrade like the industry claims. People are willing to find a different party decoration,' Carly Wilson said

Ms Wilson's research has already made a difference.

Ray White Real estate, who used to use almost 30,000 balloons a year to promote their auctions, stopped allowing franchisers to purchase them after Mrs Wilson found their balloons washed up on a beach.

She hopes to have the same impact environmentalist lobbyists have had in the Us.

Some US states have banned balloon releases, including California, where metallic balloons caused 203 power outages in the first five months of this year, a 22 per cent rise from last year.

Documentary Rubber Jellyfish follows Carly Wilson's journey as she discovers the devastating impact helium balloons can have on the ocean and marine life