Operation Olivia
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: NIE
Context: The Indian Coast Guard, under Operation Olivia, successfully protected a record 6.98 lakh Olive Ridley turtles during their mass nesting at the Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha.
About Operation Olivia:
• What it is: A flagship marine conservation initiative launched annually by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) from November to May to protect Olive Ridley turtles during their mass nesting season.
• Organisation Involved: Indian Coast Guard in collaboration with State Pollution Control Boards, NGOs, and local fishing communities.
• Objectives: Prevent illegal fishing during turtle breeding season. Ensure safe nesting along Odisha’s key beaches (Gahirmatha, Rushikulya, Devi). Promote use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) among fishing communities.
• Prevent illegal fishing during turtle breeding season.
• Ensure safe nesting along Odisha’s key beaches (Gahirmatha, Rushikulya, Devi).
• Promote use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) among fishing communities.
• Key Features: 5,387+ surface patrol sorties and 1,768+ aerial missions since inception. Extensive community outreach, educational awareness, and MoUs with NGOs. Use of modern surveillance systems and inter-agency coordination for enforcement.
• 5,387+ surface patrol sorties and 1,768+ aerial missions since inception.
• Extensive community outreach, educational awareness, and MoUs with NGOs.
• Use of modern surveillance systems and inter-agency coordination for enforcement.
About Olive Ridley Turtles:
• Scientific Name: Lepidochelys olivacea
• IUCN Status: Vulnerable
• Habitat & Distribution: Found in warm waters of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans. Major nesting sites in India: Odisha (Gahirmatha, Rushikulya, Devi), Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
• Found in warm waters of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans.
• Major nesting sites in India: Odisha (Gahirmatha, Rushikulya, Devi), Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
• Biological Features: Smallest sea turtle species, weighing up to 45 kg, olive-coloured, heart-shaped carapace. Arribada (mass nesting): Thousands of turtles nest simultaneously, especially from Nov–Apr. Omnivorous diet: Feeds on crustaceans, jellyfish, algae, molluscs.
• Smallest sea turtle species, weighing up to 45 kg, olive-coloured, heart-shaped carapace.
• Arribada (mass nesting): Thousands of turtles nest simultaneously, especially from Nov–Apr.
• Omnivorous diet: Feeds on crustaceans, jellyfish, algae, molluscs.