Award Categories
The Art of Conservation® (AOC) contest series — including the Bird Art Contest and Fish Art Contest — offers many different awards to celebrate the rich spectrum of talent, vision, and impact among our young artists.
Only one entry may be submitted per artist, but a single entry may qualify for multiple awards.
Specialty Awards
-
![Assorted bottles, containers, and electronic components scattered on a surface with a blue and black color scheme.]()
IGFA Debris Division Award
This Debris Division must utilize the plastic waste or found objects collected during habitat cleanups to create a game fish.
-
![Underwater scene of a lionfish with striped fins swimming near coral, with small yellow fish nearby and sunlight filtering through the water.]()
Invader Crusader Award
Created to raise awareness about the impact of aquatic invasive species on fish, fishing, and habitat.
-
![A painting of two fish swimming underwater near rocks and submerged logs, with a landscape of trees and water in the background.]()
Great Lakes Fish Award
Created to celebrate fish species that are native to the Great Lakes and raise awareness of non-native species that negatively impact the ecoystem.
-
![Painting of a large great white shark swimming underwater with smaller fish surrounding it.]()
Guy Harvey Shark Award
Created in partnership with the Guy Harvey Foundation to celebrate sharks and their important role in ocean ecology.
-
![Text discussing gyotaku, Japanese art form of fish rubbing, its history, cultural significance, environmental message, and role in conservation advocacy.]()
Fish Habitat Writing Award
Created in partnership with the National Fish Habitat Partnership to focus on the importance of protecting and restoring natural fish habitat.
-
![Colorful watercolor and ink painting of a dragonfly with striped orange, green, blue, and brown wings, flying amid a dark blue background with white and blue circular splashes.]()
Mighty Minnow Award
The Mighty Minnow Award celebrates the creativity and talent of Kindergarten participants in the K-3 age group.
-
![WFMD Migratory]()
Migratory Fish Award
Created in partnership with World Fish Migration Day, this award celebrates migratory fish species found across the globe.
State Specialty Awards
-
Alaska Fish Heritage Award
Created to celebrate Alaskan’s unique relationship with Sockeye Salmon though sport fishing, subsistence fishing or commercial fishing.
-
Go Fish! Georgia Award
Created by the Georgia Go Fish! Education center to celebrate fish species native or introduced to the state that are commonly sought by anglers.
-
Florida Native Fish Award
Created by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to celebrate fish species native to Florida’s inland and marine waters.
National Awards
-
Best of Show
Dedicated to Seth Thomas Spradlin, the winner of the 2008 Best of Show and Art of Conservation Awards, who tragically passed away with his brother in a float plane accident while working for the Alaska National Park Service. This Award is given to the judges’ overall top favorite piece of artwork for the contest year.
-
Art of Conservation Award
The Art of Conservation® Award is given to the entry that best illustrates the unique conservation needs of their chosen state-fish species. Both artwork and essays are taken into account when selecting this award.
-
Smile Award
Created to celebrate one artist’s unique perspective on fish.
This award is given to the student whose piece makes the judges ‘smile’ inside and out!
Award for Educators:
Richard M. Hart Educator of the Year
Know an outstanding educator? Nominate them for the opportunity to win:
Limited edition “Richard M. Hart Educator of the Year” Fish Art Print
$1,000 Amazon gift card for educational supplies
$900 stipend toward a Fishing or Aquatic Education Seminar / Field Trip for classroom