Wildlife Forever is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Great Lakes Fish Specialty Award, a new addition to the Art of Conservation® Fish Art Contest created in partnership with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC). Introduced this year, the award celebrates fish species that provide valuable ecosystem services and are vital to Great Lakes Indigenous, commercial, recreational, and subsistence fisheries. It also raises awareness of non-native fish species that negatively impact the ecosystem. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners were identified across four age groups.

The 1st Place winners of the 2025 Great Lakes Fish Award are:

• K–3rd Grade: Yiling Lao, MI – Rainbow Trout
• 4th–6th Grade: Annabelle Mu, VA – Rainbow Trout
• 7th–9th Grade: Ethan Kim, NY – Sturgeon
• 10th–12th Grade: Jamila Shin, NJ – Sturgeon & Round Goby

View all 12 winning artworks at: www.theartofconservation.org/great-lakes-award-winners

"All of the artwork submitted under the Great Lakes Fish Specialty Award were truly amazing and highlighted fish species inhabiting the vast freshwater ecosystems of the Great Lakes in a different and unique way. The GLFC appreciates this partnership with Wildlife Forever and looks forward to using the artwork as part of our communications program,” said Dr. Marc Gaden, Executive Secretary of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.

To qualify for the award, students submitted original artwork that included a fish species from the official eligibility list. Entries highlighted native icons like lake trout and walleye, naturalized species such as Chinook salmon, and non-native species like the round goby. Winners receive custom prizes including GLFC merchandise, sea lamprey models, stickers, and a feature in a special calendar distributed across the Great Lakes region.

“This new award has sparked incredible creativity while deepening awareness about the importance of our Great Lakes fisheries,” said Veronica Mangio, Marketing & Communications Manager at Wildlife Forever. “From stunning depictions of sturgeon to critical reflections on invasive species, these students are telling the story of an ecosystem worth protecting for generations to come.”

To learn more about the Fish Art Contest and see all 2024–25 winning entries, visit www.FishArt.org.