The Postal Union for the Mediterranean PUMed yesterday issued a joint stamp issue entitled Fish in the Mediterranean. Malta is participating in this initiative through the issue of a stamp featuring the Lampuka, which is a common sight around the Maltese seas between August and December.

PUMed is a restricted union forming part of the Universal Postal Union and it marks the Mediterranean region as a political, economic and social area. Faced with an ever-changing postal industry, members within PUMed have come together to develop projects that assist each postal operator in facing the challenges of the market. PUMed was established in March 2011 with its headquarters in Malta.

The Malta stamp carries a face value of €3.59. Printex Limited produced the set in offset and the issue consists of 52,000 stamps in sheets of 10 stamps from a design by Richard J. Caruana.

This philatelic issue is available from all Post Offices in Malta and Gozo, online at www.maltaphilately.com or by mail from the Philatelic Bureau, MaltaPost plc, 305, Qormi Road, Marsa, MTP 1001; Tel. 2596 1740; email: [email protected]