OLIVE RIDLEY DEATHS RAISE

NEWS: This news highlights conservation concerns related to Olive Ridley sea turtles during their nesting season along the Andhra Pradesh coast, particularly near Visakhapatnam.

Olive Ridley Turtles

• Olive Ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) are marine reptiles known for mass nesting events called “arribadas.”
• India’s east coast, especially Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, is a critical nesting habitat
• Listed as ‘Vulnerable’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
• Protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972)

Likely Cause of Death RECENTLY:

• Olive Ridley turtles: Are air-breathing reptiles, need to surface every 40–45 minutes to breathe
• If they get trapped in fishing nets (especially trawl nets): They cannot surface, this leads to drowning, known as bycatch mortality

Legal and Regulatory Issues

• Experts have demanded strict enforcement of the: Andhra Pradesh Marine Fishing Regulation Act

Key concern:

• Illegal fishing within 8 km of the coastline, where: Mechanised fishing is restricted, turtle movement is high during nesting season.
• Weak enforcement directly threatens marine biodiversity.

Initiatives to Protect Olive Ridley Turtles:

• Operation Olivia: Every year, the Indian Coast Guard’s “Operation Olivia”, helps protect Olive Ridley turtles as they congregate along the Odisha coast for breeding and nesting
• Mandatory use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs):  TEDs are nets specially designed with an exit cover that allows turtles to escape while retaining the catch