Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 11, 2026

Toothfish Day

Toothfish Day is a public holiday celebrated in the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Usually held on 4 September, the holiday marks the end of the toothfish fishing season and shows the importance of the Patagonian toothfish fishery and sustainable fishing practices. To commemorate the holiday, the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands holds a reception in Government House. Previously, it was known as Toothfish Day from 2012 to 2014.

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Jun 11, 2026
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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 2026 (2026-09-04)
FrequencyAnnual
A specimen of a Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) source ↗

Toothfish Day is a public holiday celebrated in the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Usually held on 4 September, the holiday marks the end of the toothfish fishing season and shows the importance of the Patagonian toothfish fishery and sustainable fishing practices. To commemorate the holiday, the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands holds a reception in Government House. Previously, it was known as Toothfish (end of season) Day from 2012 to 2014.

Background

Toothfish Day is a public holiday celebrated in the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. It is annually commemorated on 4 September as a bank holiday,1 though it may be observed on a weekday if the date lands on a weekend.2 It is one of eleven public holidays in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands,2 which are appointed by the Governor in Council.34

The holiday marks the end of the toothfish (Dissostichus, also called the Chilean sea bass) fishing season.1567 Locals57 celebrate with a toast for the holiday.1 The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) celebrates Toothfish Day with a reception at Government House in Stanley, Falkland Islands.86 The reception includes a quiz,6 a toast, spin the bottle, and a menu featuring dishes made with toothfish.59 GSGSSI also holds meetings and a reception in London in the mainland United Kingdom to mark the occasion.6

The holiday was created to show the importance of the Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) fishery and to highlight the sustainable fishing practices of the industry in the territory.657 The holiday dates back to at least 2012, when it was called "Toothfish (end of season) Day" and took place on 14 September.10 The holiday replaced a previously undesignated bank holiday.4 It remained under that name and stayed in mid-September11 until 2015, when it was instituted as simply Toothfish Day and moved to 4 September.412

Past dates

Past observances of Toothfish Day
Year Date Date Observed Name Reception Date
2012 14 September 14 September Toothfish (end of season) Day10
2013 13 September 13 September Toothfish (end of season) Day11
2014 15 September 15 September Toothfish (end of season) Day11
2015 4 September 4 September Toothfish Day12
2016 5 September 5 September Toothfish Day13 6 September6
2017 4 September 4 September Toothfish Day14
2018 4 September 4 September Toothfish Day15
2019 4 September 4 September Toothfish Day16 4 September7
2020 4 September 4 September Toothfish Day17 7 September18
2021 4 September 6 September Toothfish Day2 29 September819
2022 5 September 5 September Toothfish Day20
2023 4 September 4 September Toothfish Day21
References

References

  1. "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. 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. "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. "The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Celebrate Toothfish Day". Falkland Islands Television. Stanley, Falkland Islands. 12 December 2019. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021 – via YouTube.
  6. "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. 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. "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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. Roberts, Colin (29 April 2015). "Public Holidays 2016" (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. Roberts, Colin (26 May 2016). "Public Holidays 2017" (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.
  15. Roberts, Colin (1 May 2017). "Public Holidays 2018" (PDF). Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Stanley, Falkland Islands. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  16. Phillips, Nigel James (11 June 2018). "Public Holidays 2019" (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.
  17. Phillips, Nigel James (18 December 2019). "Public Holidays 2020*" (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.
  18. 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.
  19. "Government of South Georgia and The South Sandwich Islands Stakeholders Event – 2021" (PDF). Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands. Stanley, Falkland Islands. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023. Wednesday 29th September Toothfish Day Reception Government House, Stanley 1800-1930
  20. Phillips, Nigel James (4 June 2021). "Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance 1977 section 73 Public Holidays 2022" (PDF). Stanley, Falkand Islands: Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023. 5 September Toothfish Day (in lieu of 4 September)
  21. "September 2023". South Georgia Museum. Grytviken, South Georgia. September 2023. Archived from the original on 4 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2023.