INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — The winner of the 2020 Indianapolis Prize has been announced.
This is an historic win for Amanda Vincent, becoming the first marine conservationist to win the Indianapolis Prize.
"Oh, I'm so excited,” Vincent said. “I'm really excited because this is the first time that an ocean project, ocean conservation has won the prize."
The Indianapolis Prize puts the spotlight on the world’s leading animal conservationists.
Collectively, the six finalists are credited with saving dozens of animal species from extinction.
Vincent is a champion for seahorses.
"I started working on seahorses because only the male gets pregnant. And I was super interested in the evolution of sex differences," Vincent said.
Her "Project Seahorse" team seeks to end harmful fishing practices. She has established dozens of marine protected areas where no fishing is allowed, which allows seahorses and other marine species to thrive.
"So, let's start with the reality that 99 percent of our living space on earth is in the ocean,” Vincent said. “So, if we're going to get it right for the planet, we have to get it right for the ocean."
For Amanda Vincent, winning the Indianapolis Prize represents a big opportunity to bring more focus to the place she loves most of all.