OPERATION OLIVIA
What is Operation Olivia?
- Operation Olivia is an annual mission conducted by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
- It is aimed at protecting Olive Ridley turtles during their nesting season along the eastern coast of India, especially in Odisha.
- The operation is carried out every year from November to May, covering the entire breeding and nesting period of these turtles.
WHY IS IT CALLED OPERATION OLIVIA?
- The operation is named after the Olive Ridley turtle, a species of sea turtle found in warm waters, including the Bay of Bengal.
- These turtles are known for their mass nesting behavior (Arribada) and are vulnerable, facing several threats due to human activity.
GEOGRAPHICAL FOCUS OF OPERATION OLIVIA
- Operation Olivia mainly covers coastal areas of:
- Odisha (especially Gahirmatha Beach and Rushikulya River Mouth)
- Parts of West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh
- Gahirmatha Beach is the world’s largest rookery (nesting site) for Olive Ridley turtles.
- The Rushikulya River mouth has also emerged as a key site in recent years for mass nesting.
RECENT UPDATE
- In February 2025, a record-breaking 6.98 lakh (698,000) Olive Ridley turtles were protected during their nesting at Rushikulya River mouth in Odisha.
- This was made possible through the Indian Coast Guard’s continuous monitoring and protection activities under Operation Olivia.
KEY ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED
a. Marine and Aerial Surveillance
- Since its inception, Operation Olivia has conducted:
- 5,387 surface patrol sorties
- 1,768 aerial surveillance missions
- These operations help monitor illegal fishing, track turtle movements, and ensure no human disturbance in nesting zones.
b. Detention of Illegal Vessels
- A total of 366 boats involved in illegal fishing were detained during the operation period.
- These boats were violating fishing regulations in protected zones, posing a threat to turtle safety.
c. Community Engagement & Conservation Education
- The ICG works closely with local fishing communities to ensure:
- Use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in fishing nets to reduce accidental turtle deaths.
- Awareness drives and educational programs to promote turtle conservation.
- Partnerships with NGOs via formal Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to promote sustainable fishing and biodiversity protection.
WHY OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLES NEED PROTECTION?
- Olive Ridley turtles are listed as Vulnerable under the IUCN Red List.
- India legally protects them under:
- Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (provides highest protection).
- They are also covered under international conventions like:
- CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)
- CMS (Convention on Migratory Species)
- IOSEA Marine Turtle MoU, to which India is a signatory.
THREATS FACED BY SPECIES
- Illegal fishing and trawling during nesting season
- Net entanglement
- Pollution and habitat degradation
- Disturbance by coastal development and tourism
ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLES
- Olive Ridley turtles help maintain marine ecological balance by:
- Controlling jellyfish populations
- Promoting healthy seagrass beds, which are important carbon sinks
- Their eggs also serve as nutrients for coastal ecosystems.
Mass Nesting – Arribada Phenomenon
- Olive Ridley turtles display a unique nesting behavior called Arribada, where thousands of females come ashore simultaneously to lay eggs.
- Odisha is one of the very few places in the world where this phenomenon occurs, making it globally significant.
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