‘Operation Olivia’ to the rescue of Olive Ridleys

‘Operation Olivia’ to the rescue of Olive Ridleys

Subject : Environment

       Context : Every year, the Indian Coast Guard’s “Operation Olivia”, initiated in the early 1980s, helps protect Olive Ridley turtles as they congregate along the Odisha coast for breeding and nesting from November to December.

Concept :

• Operation Oliva has been launched by the Indian Coast Guard in the state of Odisha.
• It is an annual mission that aims to protect the Olive Ridley sea turtles during their breeding seasons and to conserve their natural breeding habitats.
• The Mission has been launched this year jointly with the Odisha state forest department. Two dedicated ships of the coast guard and some aircraft have been engaged in this novel nature conservation activity.
• The two ships will ensure that fishing vessels do not enter the major breeding sites of the turtles like Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, Dhamara River, and Rushikulya beach.
• The Coast guard keeps a vigil on the illegal fishing and turtle catching in this area as a part of the mission.
• The ICG also makes interactions with the fishermen and people of the local community to raise awareness on conserving the Olive Ridleys.

Olive Ridley Turtles

• Olive Ridley turtles are one of the species of sea turtles and have been listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• It is included in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and in the Appendix I of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
• The species is one of the most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world.
• It is primarily found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, but also in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
• They are famous for their unique mass nesting called arribadas wherein females lay eggs in the moonlight.