Why in News?  

The Indian Coast Guard announced that its Operation Olivia initiative successfully protected 6.98 lakh Olive Ridley turtles during the nesting season at the Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha, marking a record achievement in marine conservation.  

Aim and Objective  

• To ensure the safe nesting of Olive Ridley turtles by reducing threats such as illegal fishing and destruction of habitats.  
• Encourage active participation from local communities and NGOs.  
• Promote sustainable fishing methods like using Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) to protect turtles during fishing.  

Background and Implementation  

• Operation Olivia was launched in the early 1980s and runs annually from November to May.  
• It focuses on protecting important nesting beaches in Odisha, including Gahirmatha and Rushikulya river mouth, which are key breeding sites for Olive Ridley turtles.  

About Olive Ridley Turtle  

• Olive Ridley turtles are the smallest and most numerous sea turtles globally.   
• Named after the olive-green shade of their shells, they are famous for their remarkable mass nesting event, known as Arribada, where thousands of females simultaneously nest on a single beach.  

Olive Ridley Turtle