OCEAN CITY, Md.- It's the halfway point for the White Marlin Open and besides the fish, some boaters are bringing back something else from their time spent out in the open waters: balloons.
It's all part of a summer project started by 12-year-old Josh Blume and his sister, 10-year-old Emily. The siblings have grown up on the water and can see the harmful impact garbage can have on the creatures that call the ocean home.
So the two created Blume's Balloon Round Up, a contest encouraging people and boaters to stop and pick up any balloons that they see floating in the water.
"It could save a life of a sea turtle. Who knows how many lives we've saved with it," Josh said.
And captains in Ocean City, and beyond, are on board with the idea.
"In the past handful of years, we have seen more and more balloons, things like reveal parties. I guess people just think they go away but they end up in the ocean," Franky Pettolina, President of the Ocean City Marlin Club, said.
Other boaters, like Ryan Knapp who is participating in the balloon contest, are just as adamant about helping.
"One of these balloons we get out of the ocean is one less piece of trash that's going to float up or be a piece of trash somewhere else in the world," Knapp said.
Now, the Blume's contest has reached new levels. Gaining a lot of popularity in the White Marlin Open.
"I thought it was just going to be a little thing in Ocean City, but then it's grown really big," Emily Blume said.
The Blume's inital goal was to collect 1,000 balloons from June 29th to September 30th. But they're smashing their goal, already reaching 885 ballons. They think they'll be able to reach 1,000 by the end of this week. They've received feedback on people collecting balloons as far as the Bahamas, and Hawaii.
"We're fishing in the largest billfish tournament in the world right now, and we're still talking about balloons on the radio," Pettolina said.
The balloon contest does have prizes, a lot of local businesses have donated things. There will be a first, second, and third place winner.
"To see two kids that I've watched grow up, leading the charge on it, it's really great," Pettolina said.
If you want to reach out and join along in the contest, you can contact the Blume's on Facebook here.
