Orri Vigfússon receives the 2007 Goldman Environmental Prize for Islands and Island Nations
Ambassador Jónsson held a reception at the ambassador’s residence to honor salmon conservationist Mr. Orri Vigfússon the 2007 Goldman Environmental Prize Recipient. Among those present were the President of Iceland, H.E. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson and First Lady Dorritt Moussaieff, who were visiting Washington.
In 1989 Mr. Vigfússon founded the North Atlantic Salmon Fund (NASF) in order to protect the salmon population in the North Atlantic Ocean. Under the auspices of NASF Mr. Vigfússon has raised millions of dollars in order to purchase netting rights from commercial fishers across the North Atlantic. Mr. Vigfússon is the embodiment of a new breed of environmental leaders, one who utilizes business know-how in order to effectively protect and conserve natural resources Furthermore, NASF has brokered moratorium agreements on sea salmon fishing with several national governments. These efforts have drastically improved the salmon population in the North Atlantic; an estimated 5 million North Atlantic salmon have been conserved since the inception of NASF.
The Goldman Environmental Prize was awarded to Mr. Vigfússon for his relentless determination for the conservation of the North Atlantic Salmon. The Goldman Environmental Prize was created in 1990 by civic leaders and philanthropists Mr. and Mrs. Richard N. Goldman in order to award individuals for their efforts in protecting the environment.
For further information visit the following links: NASF & Goldman Prize
