Operation Olivia

In a major boost to marine conservation, the Indian Coast Guard’s (ICG) annual mission ‘Operation Olivia’ helped protect a record of over 6.98 lakh Olive Ridley turtles nested at the Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha during February 2025.

Operation Olivia

In a major boost to marine conservation, the Indian Coast Guard’s (ICG) annual mission ‘Operation Olivia’ helped protect a record of over 6.98 lakh Olive Ridley turtles nested at the Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha during February 2025. Conducted annually from November to May, Operation Olivia is an important initiative of the ICG aimed at ensuring safe nesting grounds for Olive Ridley turtles particularly at Gahirmatha Beach and surrounding coastal areas of Odisha, which see the arrival of over eight lakh turtles each year.

The olive ridley sea turtle, also known commonly as the Pacific ridley sea turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Cheloniidae. The species is the second-smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world. In addition to enforcement, the Coast Guard has actively collaborated with coastal communities, promoting the use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in fishing nets and signing MoUs with NGOs to support conservation education and sustainable fishing practices.

Scientific name: Lepidochelys olivacea

Class: Reptilia

Domain: Eukaryota

Family: Cheloniidae

Kingdom: Animalia

Order: Testudines

Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary

Gahirmatha is the mass nesting spot in Indian Ocean region and the only turtle sanctuary in Odisha.

It is the world’s largest nesting beach of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles. Gahirmatha was declared a turtle sanctuary in 1997 by the Odisha government after considering its ecological importance and as part of efforts to save the sea turtles.

Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary is one of the three parts of the Bhitarkanika National Park. The other two includes the area of Bhitarkanika National Park and the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary.

Indian Coast Guard

Indian Coast Guard is a maritime law enforcement and search and rescue agency of India with jurisdiction over its territorial waters including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone.

Founded: 1 February 1977

Motto: वयम् रक्षामः We Protect

Headquarters: ICG Headquarters, New Delhi

Agency executive: Paramesh Sivamani, Director General;

Anniversary: Coast Guard Day: 1 February