Being a part of the aquatic ecosystems of European large lowland rivers, the Vistula, Odra and Bug are exceptionally valuable in terms of biodiversity. However, the habitat is systematically threatened with degradation, particularly caused by pollution. One of the environment’s representatives is the barbel (lat. Barbus barbus) depicted on the Polish 2024 EUROPA stamp. The fish usually lives in rivers with a hard, rocky or stony-gravel bottom and fast current. It also features sensitiveness to a decrease in oxygen and pollution in the water. This aspect is symbolically illustrated by the pixelated half of fish’s body and symbols of chemical elements (Fe – iron, Pb – lead, Cd – cadmium, Hg – mercury, Zn – zinc) that suffer the aquatic environment.
