Operation launched to protect Olive Ridley turtles in Odisha

Kendrapara (Odisha), Nov 30 (PTI) 'Operation Oliver' has been launched by the Odisha government to protect Olive Ridley turtles arriving for mating at the Garimata sanctuary in Kendrapara district. The Cost Guard has deployed a ship and a Dornier aircraft to keep watch for fishermen, for whom Garimata is off limits. "We do it every year for safety of the turtles who die if they are hit by propellors of trawlers or get entangled in fishing nets," Deputy Inspector General, Coast Guard, Paradip K P S Raghuvamshi said today. "A high-power committee of Odisha government has sought our services in the turtle conservation programme," he said. "Accordingly the operation to keep vigil on illegal fishing along the turtle concentration zone is in full swing," Raghuvamshi said. Patrol vessels of the forest and fisheries department often sought assistance from Coast Guard ships in the event of exigencies, he said. The patrol in turtle congregation sites would be in force till marine turtles finish laying eggs on beaches, the CG DIG said. MORE PTI COR SKN PC