On World Environment Day 2025, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) highlighted its contributions to marine conservation and sustainable maritime governance. The ICG has removed over 194 tonnes of plastic waste through coastal cleanup operations and campaigns like "Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar." Operating along India's coastline, the ICG protects coral reefs, mangroves, and nesting beaches while acting as the frontline defense against marine environmental hazards, utilizing pollution control vessels and conducting exercises like NATPOLREX. The ICG also plays a role in wildlife conservation, protecting olive ridley turtles and curbing the illegal trade of endangered marine species.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Defence: A government ministry, likely responsible for the Indian Coast Guard.
Indian Coast Guard: Also referred to as ICG, it is leading marine conservation efforts.
World Environment Day 2025: The specific World Environment Day being referenced.
04 JUN 2025: Date of the post by PIB Delhi
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi. The source of the information.
BeatPlasticPollution: The global theme for World Environment Day 2025.
Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar: A flagship campaign related to marine conservation.
Puneet Sagar Abhiyan: A flagship campaign related to marine conservation.
Mission LiFE: A flagship campaign related to marine conservation.
India: The country whose coastline the ICG is operating along.
11,000 km: The approximate length of India's coastline.
Samudra Prahari: Pollution control vessel of the ICG.
Samudra Paheredar: Pollution control vessel of the ICG.
Samudra Pavak: Pollution control vessel of the ICG.
NATPOLREX: Large-scale exercises related to pollution response efforts.
Operation Olivia: An ICG operation focused on protecting olive ridley turtles.
6.98 lakh: Number of olive ridley turtles protected in 2025 during Operation Olivia
Odisha: State in India where olive ridley turtles are nesting.
Andaman Nicobar Islands: Location where anti-poaching efforts are being conducted.
SRKB Release ID: 2133915: The release ID of the document.
Ministry of Defence
Indian Coast Guard Leads Marine Conservation
Efforts on World Environment Day 2025
Posted On: 04 JUN 2025 7:10PM by PIB Delhi
On the occasion of World Environment Day 2025, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) reaffirmed its
leading role in marine conservation and sustainable maritime governance. With over 58 major
coastal clean-up operations removing more than 194 tonnes of plastic waste in the past year, the
ICG has significantly contributed to this year’s global theme, #BeatPlasticPollution, under flagship
campaigns such as Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar, Puneet Sagar Abhiyan, and Mission LiFE.
Operating along India’s extensive 11,000 km coastline, the ICG safeguards critical ecosystems
including coral reefs, mangroves, and nesting beaches that support coastal biodiversity and
livelihoods. The service also acts as the nation’s frontline defense against marine environmental
hazards. With pollution control vessels like Samudra Prahari, Samudra Paheredar, and Samudra
Pavak, the ICG leads swift response efforts against oil spills and chemical pollution, reinforced
through large-scale NATPOLREX exercises involving over 50 national stakeholders.
Beyond pollution control, the ICG continues to play a vital role in wildlife conservation. In 2025,
Operation Olivia protected over 6.98 lakh olive ridley turtles nesting along Odisha’s coast. Anti-
poaching efforts in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands further curbed the illegal trade of endangered
marine species, including sea cucumbers and corals.
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SR/KB
(Release ID: 2133915)