The outdoor release of sky lanterns and helium balloons will be fined up to £500.

Sky Lanterns and Balloons Prohibition Bill 2020 has forbidden the outdoor release of lanterns and helium filled balloons, with the exception of weather balloons, and means anyone doing so will face a fine of up to £500.

The Bill to prohibit this as well as Chinese style lanterns gained Royal Assent in July which means these lanterns are now illegal to sell and supply.

This includes online sales.

Introduced by Martyn Perkins, Garff MHK, the Private Members’ Bill has been welcomed by farmers, environmental and wildlife groups and emergency services, according to a statement from the government.

It has also been fully supported by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture as it will ’safeguard wildlife, reduce litter, including single-use plastic in the countryside, and protect the biosphere’.

Mr Perkins said: ’Lanterns and balloons can entertain us briefly when they take off, but are an absolute disaster for wildlife, farm animals and marine life when they come back down.

’Although the sale of sky lanterns has been prohibited here since 2015, these new legal powers go way beyond that and it is great news for our precious biosphere.’

The legislation means the island has moved ahead of the United Kingdom and has joined countries such as Australia, Brazil and Germany in tackling the environmental issue.

Leigh Morris, chief executive officer of Manx Wildlife Trust, said: ’It is a positive step which will play an important part in protecting the Manx countryside, of which 88% is agricultural land.

’The danger these items pose to wildlife, particularly in the marine environment, is significant and undebatable.

’It’s excellent that our Isle of Man biosphere is leading the way.

’This ban is great news for Manx nature.’

In 2014, the Manx National Farmers’ Union (MNFU) was one of the first groups in the island to call for lanterns to be made illegal.

This occurred after a cow died from swallowing lantern wire.

MNFU president Tim Johnston said: ’Not only are they a serious fire hazard but they can also cause suffering to innocent animals through ingestion, entanglement and entrapment.’

Kevin Groom, chief fire officer, said that once released there is ’no way of knowing where a lantern will end up or what danger it might cause’.

He continued: ’You wouldn’t light a naked flame in your home and walk away, so why would you send one into the air with no idea whose home or habitat it could eventually destroy?’

Lanterns can cause injury to humans, damage to buildings, woodland, agricultural land and result in callouts for the fire and rescue services.

Meanwhile, helium balloons are not biodegradable so can pose a risk to wildlife where they land for decades.