FOURTH ANNUAL SANCTUARY CLASSIC FISHING AND PHOTO CONTEST KICKS OFF SUNDAY JUNE 28 AT GUY HARVEY OUTPOST RESORT ISLAMORADA!
Contest Kicks of July 4 and Runs Through Labor Day, Offering Weekly Prizes and
Up to $13,000 in Youth Scholarships from Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation
KICK OFF EVENT STARTS AT 2:00 PM ON SUNDAY JUNE 28 AT THE GUY HARVEY OUTPOST RESORT FISHING PIER
For the fourth straight year, The Sportfishing Conservancy, the Guy Harvey Oceans Foundation and NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries are working together on the Sanctuary Classic, a unique, free fishing and photo contest that celebrates recreational fishing in America’s national marine sanctuaries and promotes conservation-focused fishing practices. The 2015 Sanctuary Classic — which kicks off in the Keys and runs through Monday, September 7 (Labor Day) — will continue to work much as it has in the past, by awarding prizes for fishing photos taken in any National Marine Sanctuary or adjacent waters. However, it will add some new twists this year that will make participation more fun and more rewarding, including all new categories for the youth scholarship awards and more overall scholarships.
As in the past, all anglers need to do to participate is submit qualifying fishing photos to the Sanctuary Classic website at www.sanctuaryclassic.org. People all around the country and even the world can participate — America’s National Marine Sanctuary network spans more than 150,000 square miles of ocean and Great Lakes waters from the Hawaiian Islands to the Florida Keys and from Lake Huron to American Samoa.
Entries will be posted on the website and viewable for one week, and during this time visitors will be able to comment on the pictures and share them via various social media channels. Each week’s entries will be judged, with one weekly winner selected to receive a pair of Costa Del Mar sunglasses (a $250 value). Weekly winners will be photos judged to best exemplify one or more of the following themes:
- Biggest (looking) Fish
- Smallest (looking) Fish
- Best Conservation Message
- Guy Harvey Spirit
- Most Family Oriented Photo
- Most Unique Looking Fish
- Largest Fish Compared to Angler
- Best Display of Responsible Fishing Values
At the end of the contest, one photo from each National Marine Sanctuary from a winning entrant will receive a $1,000 youth scholarship from the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. Winning photos will be those judged by a panel of judges including world-renowned artist Guy Harvey, to best represent the same criteria. Judges decisions are final.
2015 Sanctuary Classic/Page 2
“This is going to be an exciting year for the Sanctuary Classic,” said Tom Raftican, President of The Sportfishing Conservancy. “Our partners have really stepped up to provide some great prizes — like a pair of premium Costa Del Mar fishing glasses for each weekly winner. In addition, the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation is coming through by significantly increasing the total scholarship dollars compared to the previous year. This will help expand participation in the Classic and help promote the core ideas behind the program — encouraging families to enjoy the great fishing opportunities our marine sanctuaries have to offer, illustrating the benefits of ‘light-touch’ recreational fishing and exposing a broad, diverse audience of anglers to the ideas of ethical sportfishing.”
“This event will help spread the word that about 98% of sanctuary waters are open to recreational fishing and offer excellent, accessible opportunities for family outdoor fun. And by focusing on fun photos — instead of just fish brought back to the dock — we’re showing that the benefits of ethical angling practices can be very rewarding,” added Sanctuary Classic Co-Coordinator, Jenny Armstrong.
Interested anglers and families can learn more about the 2015 Sanctuary Classic, including rules, regulations and how to sign up, by visiting www.sanctuaryclassic.org. People can find out more about America’s extensive network of marine sanctuaries by visiting www.sancuaries.noaa.gov.
About The Sportfishing Conservancy
Our Mission: Recognizing that with privilege comes responsibility, the mission of The Sportfishing Conservancy is to empower sportsmen to fulfill and celebrate their commitment to their sport and to real world conservation.
Contacts:
East Coast: Tom Raftican, (805) 895-3000, tom@sportfishingconservancy.org
West Coast: Jenny Armstrong (949) 813-7831, jenny@sportfishingconservancy.org