UBC IOF researcher Amanda Vincent has been named a finalist for the prestigious Indianapolis Prize in recognition of her successes in the conservation of at-risk species.
Dr. Amanda Vincent
“Amanda and the finalists for the Indianapolis Prize are heroes in many senses of the word,” said Michael Crowther, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Zoological Society, which administers the Indianapolis Prize as part of its core mission.
“They’ve sacrificed their own self-interests to help others, and they’ve overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Our world is unquestionably better off because of Dr. Amanda Vincent, and we hope others will not only take notice of, but also join in her noble work to save wild things and wild places.”
Vincent largely put seahorse conservation on the map. Not only did she take her studies under the water and into their world, she identified a conservation concern for these tiny fish and mounted a campaign to secure their future.
In 1996, she co-founded the first seahorse conservation program, Project Seahorse, which she still directs. She has since led work ranging from behavioral research to global policy. Her team has established 35 no-take marine protected areas in the Philippines and guided groups that use seahorses for traditional medicines or aquarium display to obtain seahorses carefully.
In 2002, Vincent had one of her most notable gains, persuading the then 169, and now 181, member nations of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to control seahorse exports to ensure sustainability. This was the first global trade regulation for any marine fishes and set precedent for many other species.
Thanks to Vincent’s blend of research and action, seahorses are now widely considered a flagship species – meaning their conservation ensures the survival and protection of other marine life. For her tireless work to advance seahorse conservation, Vincent has advanced as a Finalist for the 2016 Indianapolis Prize.
“Amanda connects research and action effectively, and acts on the best available knowledge for the maximum conservation impact,” said Heather Koldewey, head of global conservation programmes for the Zoological Society of London. “Above all, she seeks solutions, using drive and creativity to find novel approaches to conservation – many of which have far-reaching impact beyond seahorses.”
Vincent is a Professor at the University of British Columbia’s Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries. She holds a doctorate from the University of Cambridge, UK, and an undergraduate degree from the University of Western Ontario, Canada.
Tags: Amanda Vincent, Awards, Biodiversity, Faculty, Project Seahorse, seahorses