ARLINGTON, VA — Ashoka: Innovators for the Public, a global organization supporting social entrepreneurship worldwide, announced today that Ashoka Global Fellow Orri Vigfüsson is the recipient of the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize for his innovative approach and unwavering commitment to reverse the near-extinction of wild North Atlantic salmon. The $125,000 Goldman prize, now in its 18th year, is awarded annually to six environmental heroes and is the largest award of its kind in the world.

Vigfüsson, a native of Iceland, was nominated for this award by Ashoka who recognizes him as a leading social entrepreneur for tackling a systemic environmental problem. He is also one of Ashoka’s first Global Fellows, a new group of Fellows who are demonstrating that some problems must be tackled at the global level and demand global solutions. He represents a new breed of environmental leaders who use cross-sector and transnational partnerships to effectively protect precious natural resources.

Ashoka CEO and founder Bill Drayton describes Vigfüsson as more than an environmentalist, but as a leading social entrepreneur — an individual with system changing solutions for the world’s most urgent social problems.

“Social entrepreneurs are not just content to give a fish, or teach how to fish. They will not rest until they have revolutionized the fishing industry,” said Drayton. “For Orri, this is literally his life’s work and legacy.”

Since the late 1980s, Vigfüsson has been a leading global voice in salmon conservation throughout the North Atlantic region. He founded the North Atlantic Salmon Fund, the first multi-national initiative to broker fishing rights buyouts with North Atlantic governments and commercial interests. Commercial open-sea fishing, which was causing a dangerous decline in salmon population and loss of economic opportunities for local fishermen, has decreased over 75% in the last 15 years. It is estimated that over 5 million salmon have been saved due to Vigfüsson’s organization.

“Orri’s win is a huge accomplishment for the entire field of social entrepreneurship,” said Scott Rechler, member of Ashoka Global Fellowship team. “Through selecting Orri as a recipient of the Prize, Goldman is recognizing the profound impact that leading social entrepreneurs are making towards sustainable, economically-viable solutions for a healthier planet.”

About the Goldman Environmental Prize
The Goldman Environmental Prize allows individuals to continue winning environmental victories against the odds and inspires ordinary people to take extraordinary actions to protect the world. The Goldman Environmental Prize was created in 1990 by civic leaders and philanthropists Richard N. Goldman and his late wife, Rhoda H. Goldman. For more information, please visit the Goldman Environmental Prize.