Florida’s budding grade school artists have until the end of March to create an original design of the state’s fish: the Florida largemouth bass or the saltwater Atlantic sailfish.

The 2020 Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest is open to students from kindergarten through high school across the U.S. Entrants must base their illustrations on a species from a list of designated state fish.

“The State-Fish Art Contest connects young people to the world of fishing and teaches the importance of conserving the great outdoors, said Bob Ziehmer, senior director of sponsors Bass Pro Shops.

“This contest reaches every corner of our world, impacting thousands each year and inspiring young people to spend more time outside.”

In Florida, the native Atlantic sailfish is mostly dark blue with brownish sides and a silver fading to white belly, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The Florida largemouth bass has an elongated body that ranges in color from a silvery-white to brassy-green and occasionally to a light brown in darker water, says the United States Geological Survey website.

Contest entries must be postmarked by Tuesday, March 31. Judging takes place on Earth Day April 22 and winners will be announced in May.

Aside from Bass Pro, other sponsors include the National Parks Service and the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, which will provide prizes including a yearlong magazine subscription and books and artwork by artist and conservationist Guy Harvey.

Through the contest, students can win recognition and prizes while learning about fish, fishing and aquatic conservation. The goal is to inspire a love of nature, promoters say.

The event was sparked by a fifth grader’s homework assignment in 1997. In her research, she found little available information about state-designated fish in the U.S.

In 2020, contest winners will be awarded in four grade categories: kindergarten to third grade; fourth to sixth; seventh to ninth and 10th to 12th grades. A list of official state fish is available at www.wildlifeforever.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Official-State-Fish-L....

Students in fourth grade and above are also required to submit a one-page creative writing piece about the behavior, habitat or conservation needs of their chosen species. Artwork and essays will both be judged and awarded.

“We are proud to expand our mission through the Art of Conservation and State-Fish Art program,” said Greg Jacoski, executive director of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. “Healthy, balanced ocean ecosystems are important to all people and we hope the Guy Harvey Award will inspire our young people to learn more and get involved.”

For more information and to see the 2019 winners, visit StateFishArt.org.