The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) reaffirmed its role as a national leader in marine conservation ahead of the World Environment Day 2025, highlighting its commitment to safeguarding India’s 11,000-kilometre coastline and the critical ecosystems it sustains.

This year’s global theme, Beat Plastic Pollution, brought renewed focus to the urgent challenge of marine contamination, a threat the ICG confronts head-on through robust action and community engagement.

Under flagship initiatives such as Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar, Puneet Sagar Abhiyan, and Mission LiFE, the ICG has orchestrated over 58 major coastal clean-up operations in the past year, removing more than 194 tonnes of plastic waste from beaches and coastal waters.

These campaigns have mobilised youth, fishermen, and local communities, fostering a culture of collective responsibility for ocean health and aligning with India’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14—Life Below Water.

Beyond clean-up drives, the ICG stands as the nation’s frontline defense against environmental disasters at sea.

Specialised Pollution Control Vessels—Samudra Prahari, Samudra Paheredar, and Samudra Pavak—are deployed to swiftly contain and neutralise oil spills and chemical hazards, employing Tier-I mitigation strategies to prevent irreversible ecological damage.

The biannual National Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX) ensures seamless coordination among over 50 national stakeholders, enhancing preparedness for large-scale marine pollution incidents.

The ICG’s conservation mandate extends to wildlife protection. In 2025, Operation Olivia safeguarded over 698,000 nesting olive ridley turtles along Odisha’s coast, preventing entanglement in ghost nets and curbing illegal fishing.

In the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, anti-poaching operations target the illicit trade of protected species like sea cucumbers, corals, and giant clams, reinforcing the preservation of fragile marine biodiversity.

Every mission—whether a rescue, clean-up, or anti-poaching patrol—embodies the ICG’s enduring commitment to defending not only the seas but the millions of lives they sustain.

As India marks World Environment Day, the Coast Guard urges citizens to reduce plastic consumption, participate in conservation efforts, and become stewards of the oceans, reminding all that the health of our planet begins with the health of our seas.