Experience nature: underwater life of Sint-Eustatius

The third stamp sheet of 2025 is dedicated to the unique marine biodiversity around the Caribbean island of Sint-Eustatius. With this issue, attention is drawn to the special underwater life within the Statia National Marine Park, a protected area that is essential for the conservation of vulnerable species and ecosystems. Issue details: graphic designer Frank Janse from Gouda, print run 275.000 stamp sheets, issue date June 10, 2025, printer Koninklijke Joh. Enschedé BV in Haarlem. Underwater life of Sint-Eustatius The waters around Sint-Eustatius to a depth of 30 meters belong to the Statia National Marine Park. The area covers nearly 28 square kilometers. In large parts of the park, fishing and anchoring are prohibited to protect the nearly 300 different species around the island. Sint-Eustatius is also visited by various species of sea turtles that lay eggs on the beach every year. The coral reefs and seagrass beds are not only home to many fish species and other underwater animals, but also to more than 150 different species of sponges. 1) The spotted trunkfish (Lactophrys Bicaudalis) belongs to the hard trunkfish. 2) Jumping spinner dolphins (Stenella Longirostris) are actually nothing more than wrigglers. 3) Trumpetfish (Aulostomus Maculatus) look a bit out of place. Don't they look more like a clarinet? 4) Fencing or sprinting? The blue marlin (Makaira Nigricans) is the world's most coveted sport fish. 5) In emerald, ruby, and amethyst: see those great star corals (Montastraea Cavernosa) sparkle once again. 6) Kiss fish? Then banded butterflyfish (Chaetodon Striatus) belong to the hard-rock butterflyfish. 7) Knobs and bumps? Those beauty influencers can go to hell with his humpback whale (Megaptera Novaeagliae)! 8) With those completely emancipated striped seahorses (Hippocampus Erectus), dad looks after the little ones. 9) With such a dangerous golden-tailed moray eel (Gymnothorax Miliaris), the venom isn't quite in the tail. 10) Tiger sharks (Galeocerdo Cuvier) are easy to scan underwater. Those barcodes are unique!