In News:

Operation Olivia is an annual conservation initiative launched by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) in collaboration with the Odisha Forest Department, aimed at protecting the nesting habitats of Olive Ridley turtles along the Odisha coastline. It is conducted from November to May, aligning with the turtles’ mass nesting (Arribada) season.

Key Features of Operation Olivia (as of 2025)

• In February 2025, a record 6.98 lakh Olive Ridley turtles nested at the Rushikulya river mouth.
• Since inception, the ICG has conducted:
  • 5,387 surface patrol sorties
  • 1,768 aerial surveillance missions
• 366 boats involved in illegal fishing were detained, ensuring effective protection of the turtles' breeding grounds.
• 225 ship days and 388 aircraft hours were dedicated to Operation Olivia during a recent season.
• Focus areas include Gahirmatha Beach, Rushikulya, and Dhamra river mouths in Odisha—home to over 8 lakh nesting turtles annually.

Conservation Measures

• Fishing ban within 20 km of nesting coasts (Devi, Dhamra, and Rushikulya rivers), enforced under:
  • Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
• Promotion of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) to reduce accidental bycatch.
• Community awareness campaigns and MoUs with NGOs to ensure local participation and education on marine conservation.

About Olive Ridley Turtles

• Scientific Name:Lepidochelysolivacea
• IUCN Status: Vulnerable
• Legal Protection:
  • Schedule I, Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
  • Appendix I, CITES
• Habitat: Warm tropical waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans
• India’s Nesting Sites:
  • Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary – world’s largest rookery
  • Rushikulya and Devi river mouths in Odisha
• Unique Feature: Mass nesting behavior known as Arribada, where thousands of females lay eggs on the same beach.
• Behavior: Omnivorous and solitary; migrate thousands of kilometers annually between feeding and breeding grounds.