The Bluefin Open Water Swimming Club has joined the local organisations partnering GONHS and Lewis Pugh, Patron of the Oceans for the United Nations Environment Programme, in the campaign to end the mass release of balloons that traditionally takes place during our National Day celebrations.

The 'Bluefins', as they often refer to themselves, say they feel that they have an obligation to support the partnership and do as much as they can to protect the marine environment which they hold so dear. They say that, as open water swimmers, the 'Bluefins' regularly see the effects of pollution and littering, particularly of plastic bags, through their own goggles.

Although they agree that the event has always been one of the highlights of the celebrations which would be missed by many, they are encouraged by the thought that, if the campaign is successful, “our seas will have been kept that little bit cleaner and perhaps some marine life will have been saved.” The club says that the thought of a dolphin or a sea turtle swallowing one of our balloons and dying as a result of our celebrations “is one of many examples that motivate the club to speak out.”

The club says it looks forward to continuing working closely with other organisations to protect our waters including organising events such as clearing up litter that collects in the Port area and cleaning up the seabed at our beaches. The 'Bluefins' hope that the cleaner water will benefit not only swimmers and bathers but all of Gibraltar’s marine fauna and flora.