Operation Olivia:
The Indian Coast Guard’s (ICG) annual mission, ‘Operation Olivia’, helped protect a record of over 6.98 lakh Olive Ridley turtles nested at the Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha recently.
- It is an important initiative of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) conducted annually from November to May.
- It is aimed at ensuring safe nesting grounds for Olive Ridley turtles, particularly at Gahirmatha Beach and surrounding coastal areas of Odisha.
- The operation involves round-the-clock patrolling, aerial surveillance, and close coordination with local stakeholders to protect the turtles during their breeding season.
- Since the inception of the operation, the ICG has conducted over 5,387 surface patrol sorties and 1,768 aerial surveillance missions.
- These measures have led to a significant decline in threats such as illegal fishing and habitat disruption.
- In addition to enforcement, the Coast Guard has actively collaborated with coastal communities, promoting the use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in fishing nets and signing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with NGOs to support conservation education and sustainable fishing practices.
- This integrated approach has played a pivotal role in creating a safer and more sustainable environment for Olive Ridley turtles, whose conservation is key to maintaining marine biodiversity along India’s eastern coast.
