Nearly 30 shark species are native to Canadian waters or known to visit our shores. This stamp set highlights five of them.
The blue shark is native to the Atlantic and often spotted around Newfoundland, the Bay of Fundy and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
The shortfin mako is the fastest shark in the world. It hits speeds up to 50 kilometres an hour, usually when attacking. A visitor to Canada, the Grand Banks off Newfoundland, along the Scotian Shelf, is the northernmost edge of its migratory range.
The basking shark glides through the ocean open‐mouthed, feeding on krill, plankton and fish eggs. This gentle giant has been assessed as endangered (Pacific population) and as a special concern (Atlantic population) by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).
The white shark, a threatened species, has seen its numbers decline significantly in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean.
The Greenland shark lives deep in the Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans. One of the longest‐living vertebrates, some have reached 400 years old.
Official First Day Cover
Sharks / Blue shark, Basking shark, Great White, Greenland shark, Mako shark
Souvenir sheet
—This stamp issue starring these fascinating yet oftentimes feared creatures coincided with Discovery Channel’s Shark Week. They were unveiled at the Vancouver Aquarium®, an Ocean Wise® initiative.
Booklet cover
Uncut Press Sheet - Limited edition of 150