Toothfish Day

Toothfish Day
a Happy Toothfish Day greeting illustrated by artist Ole Comoll
Observed bySouth Georgians & South Sandwich Islanders
Significanceholiday marking the end of toothfish fishing season
Date4 September
Next time4 September 2025 (2025-09-04)
FrequencyAnnual
A specimen of a Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides)

Toothfish Day is a public holiday celebrated in the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. It is annually on 4 September,[1] but if that falls on a weekend it may be observed on a weekday.[2] It is one of eleven public holidays in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands,[2] appointed by the Governor in Council.[3][4]

The holiday marks the end of the toothfish (Dissostichus, also called Chilean sea bass) fishing season.[1][5][6][7] Locals (who at this time of year number around 16[5][7]) celebrate with a toast.[1] Some bake gingerbread toothfish cookies.[8] The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) celebrates with a Toothfish Day Reception at Government House in Stanley.[9][6][10] The reception includes a quiz,[6] a toast, and a menu featuring many dishes made with toothfish.[5][10][11] GSGSSI also holds meetings and a reception in London to mark the occasion.[6]

The holiday was created to show the importance of the Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) fishery and to spotlight the sustainable fishing practices of the industry in the territory.[6][5][7] The holiday dates back to at least 2012, when it was called "Toothfish (end of season) Day" and took place on 14 September.[12] The holiday replaced a previously undesignated bank holiday.[4] It remained under that name and stayed in mid-September[13] until 2015 when it was instituted as simply Toothfish Day and moved to 4 September.[4][14]

  1. ^ a b c "Fish Get a Bank Holiday on South Georgia!". Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Stanley, Falkland Islands. 4 September 2015. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b Phillips, Nigel James (23 December 2020). "Public Holidays 2021" (PDF). South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Gazette. No. 2. Stanley, Falkland Islands. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance 1977 section 73" (PDF). 11 July 1977. p. 25. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021. The Governor in Council may from time to time, by notice in the Gazette, appoint any day to be a public holiday.
  4. ^ a b c "South Georgia Newsletter, September 2015". Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Stanley, Falkland Islands. September 2015. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d Falkland Islands Television (FITV) (12 December 2019). "The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Celebrate Toothfish Day". YouTube. Stanley, Falkland Islands. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e "South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands mark Toothfish Day". Montevideo, Uruguay: MercoPress. 7 September 2016. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  7. ^ a b c HM Governor's Office, Falkland Islands [@GHFalklands] (4 September 2019). "Governor Phillips (who is also Commissioner of #SGSSI) was delighted to host a reception this evening to celebrate #Toothfish Day. He highlighted @GovSGSSI importance on sustainable fisheries, ecosystem conservation and tackling illegal fishing. #SouthGeorgia #PatagonianToothfish" (Tweet). Government House, Falklands. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ Gregory, Sue [@otolith_nerd] (4 September 2018). "Happy #Toothfish Day! Gingerbread Dissostichus eleginoides in honour of the #SouthGeorgia public holiday that celebrates this mighty #fish!" (Tweet). Falklands. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021 – via Twitter.
  9. ^ "Toothfish Day Reception". Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Stanley, Falkland Islands. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  10. ^ a b Jeffrey, Helen (13 September 2020). "Toothfish Day". Helen and David in the South Atlantic. Stanley, Falkland Islands: WordPress. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  11. ^ HM Governor's Office, Falkland Islands [@GHFalklands] (4 September 2019). "Government House #Falklands chef Carlos, cooked delicious #PatagonianToothfish for this evening's @GovSGSSI reception to mark #Toothfish Day. #SGSSI" (Tweet). Government House, Falklands. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ Paul, Richard (4 December 2012). "Public Holidays 2012" (PDF). Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Stanley, Falkland Islands. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021. 14 September Toothfish (end of season) Day
  13. ^ Haywood, Nigel Robert (30 May 2013). "Public Holidays 2013/Public Holidays 2014" (PDF). Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Stanley, Falkland Islands. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  14. ^ Roberts, Colin (11 July 2014). "Public Holidays 2015" (PDF). Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Stanley, Falkland Islands. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.