The first batch of a new edition of stamps featuring exotic fish will be released early next week, the post office announced on Tuesday October 28.

A series of seven stamps, each with a different species of fish local to the coral reefs of Seychelles, will be launched under the theme “Fish Definitive” on Monday October 27.

The new collection depicts a species of fish amid a colourful coral reef backdrop on each stamp.

Each fish selected for display on the stamps varies in size – corresponding to each stamp’s worth – from the tiny, four-centimetre Seychelles Blenny on the 10 cent stamp to the giant whale shark on the R50 stamp.

Others include the Seychelles Anemonefish (50 cent stamp), the Seychelles Squirrelfish (R3 stamp) and the Greenthroat Parrotfish (R5 stamp).

A press release from the post office indicated that the new theme marks the first time throughout a long history of commemorative Seychelles stamps that fish have been chosen as the main subject.

Thomas Nolin, director for operations of the post office, said that a theme involving coral reef fish was long overdue, given the “many species of exotic and other forms of marine life” known to exist within the ocean territories of Seychelles.

“It was felt that the time had come to pay tribute to nature, which has put at our disposal such a large diversity of marine life, by bringing up from the bottom of the sea to the surface of letters and postcards posted in Seychelles, some of the most colourful and spectacular fish species, in particular those whose scientific names are directly linked to Seychelles,” Mr Nolin said.

Mr Nolin said that the fish were also chosen on the basis that they would be popular with stamp collectors.

A second batch of stamps under the same theme will be issued next year, according to the press release.

The stamps and first-day covers will be on sale at the Victoria Post Office and sub-offices on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue starting on Monday.  The stamps of the current definitive issue will remain on sale until stocks are exhausted.

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