Gahirmatha, May 23: The annual mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles at Odisha’s Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary has failed to occur this year, triggering concern among environmentalists and wildlife experts. Despite lakhs of turtles gathering along the coastline for nearly two-and-a-half months, large-scale egg-laying, locally known as arribada, did not occur.
Reports indicate that thousands of Olive Ridley turtles had assembled within 500 metres of the shore during the nesting season. However, unlike previous years, the turtles returned to the sea without laying eggs. Over the past two weeks, turtle sightings in the area have also drastically reduced.
Gahirmatha, Odisha’s only marine sanctuary, receives more than 50 percent of the Olive Ridley turtles that arrive along the state’s coast every year for mass nesting. After mating in the sea, lakhs of turtles usually lay eggs collectively on the sandy beaches of the sanctuary.
Last year, between March 6 and March 10, 2025, more than six lakh Olive Ridley turtles had carried out mass nesting at Gahirmatha. Generally, nesting takes place during the last week of March and sometimes extends into the first week of April. However, the unusual delay and absence of nesting this year have alarmed conservationists.
Gahirmatha has enjoyed the status of a marine sanctuary since 1997 and stretches across nearly 70 kilometres from the Dhamra river mouth to the Mahanadi estuary. During the nesting season, the Forest Department usually enforces strict security measures to protect the endangered turtles.
Environmentalists have blamed several factors for the disruption in nesting activity, including climate change, illegal fishing by trawlers and large boats inside protected waters, marine pollution, and increasing plastic waste in the sea. Activists allege that turtles often get trapped in fishing nets, leading to large-scale deaths before they can complete their breeding cycle.
Dead Turtles Found Along Coastline
Disturbing scenes of dead Olive Ridley turtles washing ashore have also been reported from different parts of the sanctuary under the Rajnagar Forest Division. In many places, carcasses lying on beaches have created foul conditions, while stray dogs and crows were seen feeding on the remains.
According to official figures, around 584 Olive Ridley turtles died between November and March during the 2026-27 season. However, locals and activists claim the actual death toll could be much higher.
Illegal VHF Towers Under Scanner
Concerns have also been raised over the alleged illegal use of VHF communication towers in coastal areas of Kendrapara district, particularly around Mahakalapada and Rajnagar blocks. Environmental groups claim that operators of fishing trawlers are illegally using VHF sets to monitor forest patrol movements and evade enforcement teams.
Locals allege that some trawler owners use multiple VHF communication devices from different companies to coordinate illegal fishing activities inside restricted marine zones. Questions are also being raised about whether the required permissions for operating such communication equipment are being properly verified.
A local fisherman, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that some individuals provide advance information about forest department patrols to trawler operators in exchange for money. There are also allegations that certain officials leak patrol-related information through mobile messages.
Environmentalists have demanded a detailed investigation by state intelligence agencies into the use of illegal VHF networks in the coastal belt.
‘Operation Olivia’ Yet to Deliver Results
The Centre had launched “Operation Olivia” in 1999 to protect Olive Ridley turtles during their breeding and nesting season following a sharp rise in turtle deaths. The initiative involved deploying Coast Guard vessels and strengthening marine surveillance to safeguard endangered turtle species, including Olive Ridleys, Hawksbill, Green Turtle, Leatherback, and Loggerhead turtles.
However, activists allege that the operation has remained largely ineffective on the ground and exists mostly on paper.
The Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary extends nearly 20 kilometres into the sea and serves as a major nesting site for Olive Ridley turtles migrating from distant regions such as Sri Lanka, the Pacific Ocean, and Costa Rica.
The turtles usually lay eggs at beaches including Babubali, Nasi, Agarnasi, Ekakula, and Chinchiri shore.
Experts point out that Olive Ridley turtles play an important ecological role by feeding on jellyfish, which helps maintain fish populations in the sea. However, the abundance of fish in the sanctuary during the nesting season often attracts illegal trawlers into prohibited zones.
Although joint patrolling responsibilities have been assigned to the Forest Department, Coast Guard, Marine Police, and Fisheries Department, locals allege that except for the Forest Department, most agencies conduct patrol activities only on paper, allowing illegal fishing to continue unchecked.
