The Pink Shrimp is common in the North-East Atlantic from the British Isles and the Netherlands to the North of Norway. It prefers relatively shallow waters, but also occurs at depths of several hundred metres.

The European Lobster (Homarus gammarus) thrives best on hard bottoms and in areas with good hiding places such as screes and crevices. It lives in relatively shallow waters, seldom moving deeper than 40 metres. It prefers to stay in the same place year after year, only interrupted by brief migrations in search of food or a mate. The male can reach a length of 50 cm measured from rostrum to tip of tail. It weighs about 5 kg, but catches have included individuals of up to 10 kg. The shell of a live lobster is greenish black with bluish spines. It has two different claws: a large one for crushing crustaceans and a smaller cutting claw.

The European lobster is common from the English Channel to the North of Norway. The Squat Lobster (Galathea strigosa) is very common in the North-East Atlantic from the Canary Islands all the way to the North Cape in Norway. It is reddish brown with bright blue stripes. It can exceed 10 cm in length. The Squat Lobster is usually found in large numbers on hard bottoms from depths of a few metres down to 60 metres. It hides under stones or in crevices during the day and comes out at night to search for food.

The Edible Brown Crab (Cancer pagurus) is easily recognised by the brownish red colour of the top of its shell and the yellow-white underside. Its shell is oval in shape. The largest examples of the crab can have a shell width of 30 cm and weigh 5 kg. The Edible Crab is found in the English Channel and along the English and Scottish coasts. It occurs as far north as Vesterålen off the coast of Norway. It thrives on both hard and soft bottoms. Fishermen have caught large numbers of the crab at depths of as much as 300-400 metres. This crab is used for food throughout its area of distribution. The largest catches are made near the English Channel, but it is also fished commercially in Norway, particularly in Sør Trøndelag.

NK: NK 1660-63
Subject: Pink shrimp, European lobster, Edible brown crab, Squat lobster
Design: Enzo Finger
Value: NOK 7.00 (A-Priority, domestic) x 4
Number: Four stamps consecutively on rolls containing 100 stamps each Printing: Photogravure by Royal Joh. Enschedé, Netherlands
Sales prices:
First day cover: NOK 31.00
Presentation pack: NOK 33.00
Collector’s set: NOK 69.00
Collector’s sheet: NOK 48.00