PROVIDED

The deadline is fast approaching for this year’s Art of Conservation Florida Fish Art Contest, hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). This contest is open to youth in grades kindergarten through 12 from across the state. The deadline to enter is Feb. 28.

Students from Florida can win top honors, international recognition and prizes while learning about fish, fishing and aquatic conservation. The Art of Conservation inspires young people to get involved in the great outdoors and ignites a passion to become lifelong activists for the natural world.

Two first-place winners will be selected for each grade bracket (kindergarten through third grade, fourth through sixth grade, seventh through ninth grade, and 10 through 12th grade), one for illustrating the best freshwater fish species and one for the best saltwater fish species. All first-place winners will advance to the national competition to be judged for top prizes, including Best of Show. The deadline to enter is Feb. 28.

To enter, students from Florida should submit their entry at Wildlife Forever – Florida Art, consisting of the following:

• An original piece of artwork featuring any fish including one or more of the following Florida native species from the same category:

— Category 1 – Freshwater: largemouth bass, striped bass, black crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, spotted sunfish, channel catfish, Forida gar, chain pickerel, bowfin

— Category 2 – Saltwater: snook, redfish, spotted seatrout, flounder, tarpon, mahi-mahi, Spanish mackerel, hogfish, queen snapper, black grouper

• A piece of creative writing, no longer than one page, about the chosen species (required for grades 4-12).

• A Florida State-Fish Art Contest entry form.

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission