The nationwide contest opens on June 8 (World Oceans Day) and ends on Labor Day, September2.

The Sportfishing Conservancy will award weekly prizes for photos that show fishing in a national marine sanctuary or adjacent waters. Additional prize scholarships will be awarded for the four pictures that best exemplify youth fishing, family fishing or conservation in a sanctuary. As this is a photo contest, catch-and-release is encouraged and all participants are asked to follow the Sportfishing Conservancys best practices guidelines

By focusing on photographs, were able to encourage angling participation while promoting the joy of ethical catch-and-release fishing, said Tom Raftican, president of The SportfishingConservancy.

Outdoor activities, such as recreational fishing, give children and families a way to experience the sanctuary, learn about how we are part of nature, and foster a sense of responsibility for our environment, said Chris Mobley, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary superintendent. Were very excited to host this event and look forward to seeing our sanctuary represented in thecontest.

This is the second year of the Sanctuary Classic. Additional support for the event is being provided by national and local partners, including: The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, The Guy Harvey Foundation, The Sportfishing Conservancy, the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, the National Marine Fishery Service and WestMarine.

For information on the 2013 Sanctuary Classic and how to enter, visit: http://www.sanctuaryclassic.org/.

NOAAs Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary was designated in 1980 to protect marine resources surrounding San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa and Santa Barbara islands. The sanctuary spans approximately 1,470 square miles, extending from island shorelines to six miles offshore, and encompasses a rich diversity of marine life, habitats and historical and culturalresource

NOAAs mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earths environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join us on Facebook, Twitter and our other social mediachannels.

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Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary to Host Fishing Photo Contest