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2025 Marine Art Contest

Stellwagen Bank is one of only a few ocean and Great Lakes areas designated as National Marine Sanctuaries. This treasured place within the Gulf of Maine is located just off the Massachusetts coast at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay. Historically, its fish stocks supported the growth of the nation, while its whales now enhance the region's ecotourism industry. In addition to fishes and whales, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and the wider Gulf of Maine are renowned for their natural productivity and biological diversity, including a wide variety of seabirds and invertebrates. Students are challenged to explore the array of species and then depict one or more animals in their artwork. Images showing predator-prey relationships and habitat scenes are also encouraged.

Judge's Choice

Drawing of a snake blenny rising from the sandy ocean floor with sunlight streaming through blue water.
Judge's Choice - Fish: Snake blenny, Claire F.
A detailed painting looking down at a large orange sea star surrounded by a dense collection of dark sand dollars and sea urchins. A spotted seahorse and tiny krill swim among them on the turquoise seabed.
Judge's Choice - Invertebrates: The Subtle Shaper - inverts, Jiyul L.
Drawing of a white harp seal pup resting on dark rocks next to flowing water.
Judge's Choice - Marine Mammals: Harp seal pup, Yueshan T.
Painting of a Long-tailed Jaeger bird perched on a bright orange buoy floating in the ocean.
Judge's Choice - Seabirds: Long-tailed jaeger, Fiona H.

Scientifc Illustration (all grades)

A realistic biological illustration of an Atlantic Mackerel against a plain white background, detailing its green back with black tiger-like stripes and silver belly.
1st Place: Mackerel, James M.
An artistic drawing of a yellowfin tuna swimming diagonally downwards in blue water. The seabed below is textured with sand and small rocks.
2rd Place: Bluefin tuna, Thomas G.
A watercolor painting of a blue lobster facing forward with its large claws open. The background is a loose wash of light blue paint.
3rd Place: Blue lobster, Anderson Y.
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High School (grades 9-12)

A painting of two Spiny Dogfish sharks swimming near a rocky seabed with green kelp. Two small yellow fish swim in the dark blue water above them.
HS 1st Place: Spiny dogfish, Claire Z.
A drawing on black paper of two deep-sea fish. The top fish is dark blue and flat, while the bottom fish is translucent blue with long, spiky fins and sharp teeth.
HS 2nd Place: Larval fish, Brandon X.
A scientific illustration of the underside of a horseshoe crab, detailing its orange legs, mouth, and book gills against a beige background.
HS 3rd Place: Horseshoe crab, Sophia S.
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Middle School (grades 5-8)

An artistic pastel drawing of a large orange and yellow Lion's Mane Jellyfish floating in blue water, with its complex mass of tentacles drifting behind it
MS 1st Place: Lion's-mane jelly, Xinyu F.
A bright and colorful drawing of a large Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) swimming past a vibrant coral reef, accompanied by several smaller blue spotted fish
MS 2nd Place: Lumpfish, Simone L.
A dramatic painting of a large humpback whale breaching high out of the water, creating a splash against a background of blue sky and clouds
MS 3rd Place: Humpback breach, Catherine G.
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Elementary School (grades k-4)

A realistic colored pencil drawing of a seal swimming upwards through swirling green and yellow kelp, with sunlight filtering down from the surface.
ES 1st Place: Harbor seal, Luna C.
An artistic drawing on black paper showing two tube-worm-like sea creatures with long, white flowing tentacles extending from orange stalks, set against purple rock formations.
ES 2nd Place: Solitary hydroids, Audrey Y.
A pastel drawing on dark paper depicting two colorful squid swimming diagonally among red coral branches against a deep blue ocean background.
ES 3rd Place: Squid, Wenhao X.
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Computer Graphics (all grades)

A digital painting looking down at a seabird gliding over the dark ocean surface. Beneath the water, the large, pale shape of a whale is visible directly under the bird
CG 1st Place: Jaeger + blue whale, Elias M.R.
A close-up, symmetrical digital portrait of an Atlantic Puffin facing forward, holding a large catch of small silver sand eels in its colorful orange beak
CG 2nd Place: Puffin, Anna B.
A digital illustration of a translucent Sea Angel (a type of sea slug) with glowing orange internal organs, floating against a stark black background with vertical text 'Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary'
CG 3rd Place: Sea Angel, Kaden L.
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