Coast Guard Operation Olivia protects Olive Ridley Turtles in Odisha

According to the Union Ministry of Defence, Operation Olivia of the Indian Coast Guard has helped protect over  6.98 lakh Olive Ridley turtles nesting at the Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha during the February 2025 period. Under Operation Olivia, the Indian Coast Guard carried out over 5,387 surface patrol sorties & 1,768 aerial surveillance missions to reduce illegal fishing and habitat disruption of the Olive Ridley’s nesting place. 

The Olive Ridley turtle is protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Olive Ridley and its Mass nesting place in Odisha

Olive Ridley is a type of marine turtle that comes to the Odisha coast annually to lay its eggs.

They arrive on the Odisha coast between November and December and stay until April and May for nesting. Each adult female lays approximately one hundred to one hundred forty eggs at a time.

The three mass nesting places of the Olive Ridley Turtle in Odisha are:

• Gahirmatha, close to the mouth of the Brahmani-Baitarani (Dhamra) River,
• Devi River mouth, which is a branch of the Mahandi River, and the 
• Rushikulya river mouth.

Threat faced by Olive Riddley 

Destruction of their Habitat—Human development of the nesting area or migratory route of the turtle as a Port or tourist site leads to the destruction of their habitats.

Poaching - Though killing and trading of turtle parts or meat is illegal, they are extensively poached for their meat, shells, and eggs.

Unfriendly fishing Practices—The biggest threat to turtles, especially young turtles, is the use of trawl nets and gill nets by fishermen to catch fish in the area. These turtles get entangled in these nets and die.

Legal and Policy Protection Measures 

The Indian and Odisha governments have taken several steps to protect Olive Ridley turtles.

• The Olive Ridley turtle has been put in  Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). 
• The nesting place in Gahirmatha has been made a part of the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Waters around Bhitarkanika have been declared a Gahirmatha (Marine) Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Coastal waters off Devi and Rushikulya have been declared a no-fishing zone during breeding under the Odisha Marine Fisheries Regulation Act 1982 and Odisha Marine Fisheries Regulation Rules, 1983.
• The Odisha Government has made it mandatory for the mechanised fishing trawlers to use Turtle Excluder Devices.

Role of the Indian Coast Guard 

• The Indian Coast Guard is empowered to enforce the no-fishing zone provision of the  Odisha Marine Fisheries Regulation Act, 1982, and the Odisha Marine Fisheries Regulation Rules, 1983.
• To fulfil this mandate, the Indian Coast Guard launched Operation Olivia.
• The Coast Guard is also working with the fishing communities to promote using Turtle Excluder Devices.