Norden by the Sea I. - Life at the Coast

A new series of Nordic stamps with the theme Norden by the Sea commences with the present souvenir sheet. The Nordic countries are separated, or united, by the water surrounding them. The coasts offer great variation, with long stretches of sandy beaches or smooth rocks. The people living along the coasts have always adapted to and drawn on their proximity to the sea. New enterprises are springing up alongside the traditional industries of shipping and fishing, for example. Energy production, fish farming and tourism are just some of the businesses that are growing ever more important in our coastal areas. Few nations depend more on ocean and coastal preservation than Iceland. Using strict measures Iceland managed to put an end to overfishing and reduce ocean pollution. Important fish stocks were strengthened. The first herring factories were erected in Siglufjörður and the herring boom bolstered the Icelandic economy. Close contact with harsh nature demands that Iceland makes sustainable use of living ocean resources.