In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Bermuda Biological Station for Research (BBSR), the Bermuda Philatelic Bureau yesterday announced the release of a BBSR Centennial commemorative stamp issue.

The four new stamps (35 cents, 70 cents, 85 cents, and $1) are the first commemorative stamp issue to be released by the Philatelic Bureau in 2003. The collection continues the Bermuda Post Office's efforts to portray all facets of Bermuda's heritage, culture and history.

The 35-cent stamp shows the RV Weatherbird II, BBSR's principal research ship, docked in front of the station. Scientists use the ship regularly to visite two time-series sites southeast of Bermuda that, together, serve as a critical ocean observatory.

The Spotfin Butterfly fish is featured on the 70-cent stamp. The central goal of Bermuda's "no-take zones" is to determine the effectiveness of existing marine protected areas, with a secondary goal of making recommendations that might enhance such reserves.

The 85-cent stamp shows the hand of BBSR scientist Dr. Hank Trapido-Rosenthal collecting sponge samples from Bermuda's reefs, while the $1 stamp shows the microscopic amphipod, which migrates to the surface in the waters of Bermuda each night. At dawn these animals reverse course, sinking or swimming downward to spend another day in darkness.

BBSR is one of the oldest science laboratories in the world. Founded in 1903 as an independent institution to take advantage of Bermuda's ideal location for deep-ocean and coral reef research and education, BBSR is a Bermuda registered charity and a US non-profit organisation.

BBSR's mission is to conduct research and science education from the special perspective of a mid-ocean island, and to provide well-equipped facilities and responsive staff support to visiting scientists, faculty and students from around the world.

Orders for the BBSR Centennial commemorative stamps may be prepaid for collection or mailing today at the General Post Office or any subpost office. The next stamp issue to be released will feature part three of the new definitive series "Bermuda Shells', on March 20, 2003.