Cornwall Council Supports Voluntary Ban on Plastic Flying Ring Toys to Protect Seals

Cornwall Council has voted to back a voluntary ban on plastic ‘flying ring’ toys after growing evidence of their danger to seals, including a widely reported case involving a much-loved St Ives seal called Wings.

Voluntary Ban and Public Warning Agreed

At a meeting on 22nd July 2025, Councillor Rosie Moore put forward a motion, seconded by Councillor Chris Batters, to tackle the growing threat posed by flying rings – lightweight plastic rings often used for beach games. The motion was supported by Councillors James O’Keefe, Faye Emery, Martyn Alvey, James Mustoe and Sarah Preece.

Councillors agreed on three key actions:

1. Promote a voluntary ban on the sale of flying rings, encouraging shops to offer wildlife-safe alternatives instead

2. Circulate publicity to raise awareness about the danger these toys pose to marine mammals

3. Discourage their use on Cornwall Council-managed beaches

The move comes with minimal cost to the Council, although a basic impact assessment will be carried out to review potential loss of income for businesses that sell the toys.

Deadly Toys Threaten Cornwall’s Marine Life

The motion highlights how discarded flying rings become deadly traps for curious seals. Once stuck around their necks, the rings tighten as the animals grow, leading to painful injuries, infection and often death. In contrast, solid frisbees do not carry the same risk.

The Seal Research Trust, founded in Cornwall in 2000, has been campaigning to stop the sale and use of flying rings. One of the most prominent cases involved an adult female seal called Wings, well known in St Ives and tracked since 2003. She was spotted with a plastic flying ring embedded tightly around her neck.

Despite the ring only being there for around two weeks, it had already started cutting into her skin. Thanks to a rescue operation involving the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, Cornish Seal Sanctuary and other organisations, Wings was saved and the ring removed – but many seals are not as fortunate.

Wings’ story has been shared widely, drawing international attention and going viral across social media.

Seal Research Trust Welcomes Council’s Action

Sue Sayer MBE, Founder and Director of the Seal Research Trust, praised Cornwall Council for supporting their Save Our Seals from Flying Rings Campaign:

“We are so grateful to our inspirational Cornwall Council and its elected members, for supporting our ‘Save Our Seals from Flying Rings Campaign’,” she said.

“Cornwall’s wonderful councillors have led the way with The Maritime Strategy, Environmental Growth Strategy and are one of the first authorities to adopt a statutory Nature Recovery Strategy with a voluntary Marine Nature Recovery Framework to follow.”

“Cornwall Council has shown great leadership once again in the South West with their decision today, that will help protect our native, heritage, speciality marine species – seals.”

“We are urging the public to sign the Change.org petition (the petition already has over 42,000 signatures); to not buy flying rings and retailers not to sell them. Instead, we are asking that people switch to wildlife safe solid disc toys ideally non-plastic.”
Visit the Seal Research Trust

The campaign was launched by the UK Seal Alliance in May and continues to gather support across the country.

Councillor Loic Rich, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change, and Councillor Sarah Preece, Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Localism and Planning, both backed the motion. Phil Mason, consulted on 9th July, had not responded by the time the motion was submitted.

As summer continues, the Council is now asking shops, residents and visitors to do their part to help protect Cornwall’s seals – simply by choosing a different toy.

📷Joyce Barry and Chris