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.
OPERATION OLIVIA explained for UPSC

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.