Indian Coast Guard Protects Record 6.98 Lakh Olive Ridley Turtles in 2025
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Operation Olivia 2025 |
| Key Highlight | 6.98 lakh Olive Ridley turtles protected at Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha during nesting season. |
| Announcement Date | May 19, 2025 |
| Primary Goal | Ensure safe nesting of Olive Ridley turtles by minimizing threats like illegal fishing and habitat destruction. |
| Initiatives | - Use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs)<br>- Community participation and NGO collaboration<br>- Geo-tagging turtles to monitor movement (collaboration with Karnataka). |
| Key Achievements | - 6.98 lakh turtles protected in February 2025<br>- 5,387 surface patrol sorties and 1,768 aerial missions conducted since inception<br>- 366 boats detained for illegal fishing<br>- MoUs with NGOs for conservation and education. |
| Background | Launched in the 1980s, conducted annually from November to May, focusing on nesting beaches in Gahirmatha, Rushikulya, and other coastal Odisha regions. |
| Significance | - Enhances India's commitment under Convention on Migratory Species and CITES.<br>- Reinforces SDG 14 (Life Below Water).<br>- Demonstrates successful multi-agency collaboration for biodiversity conservation. |