Toothfish Day

{{Short description|Annual public holiday on 4 September}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}

{{Infobox holiday

| holiday_name = Toothfish Day

| type = local

| image = Happy Toothfish Day - Ole Comoll.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = a Happy Toothfish Day greeting illustrated by artist Ole Comoll

| official_name =

| nickname =

| observedby = South Georgians & South Sandwich Islanders

| litcolor =

| longtype =

| significance = holiday marking the end of toothfish fishing season

| begins =

| ends =

| date = 4 September

| scheduling = same day each year

| duration = 1 day

| frequency = Annual

| celebrations =

| observances =

| relatedto =

}}

File:Toothfish 2.jpg (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,{{cite web |title=Fish Get a Bank Holiday on South Georgia! |url=https://www.gov.gs/fish-get-a-bank-holiday-on-south-georgia/ |website=Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands |access-date=10 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911001756/https://www.gov.gs/fish-get-a-bank-holiday-on-south-georgia/ |url-status=live |archive-date=11 September 2021 |location=Stanley, Falkland Islands |language=en |date=4 September 2015}} but if that falls on a weekend it may be observed on a weekday.{{cite news |last1=Phillips |first1=Nigel James |author-link=Nigel Phillips |title=Public Holidays 2021 |access-date=10 September 2021 |work=South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Gazette |issue=2 |date=23 December 2020 |location=Stanley, Falkland Islands |pages=2 |language=en |url=https://www.gov.gs/docsarchive/Legislation/SGSSI%20Gazette%20No%202%20dated%2023%20December%202020.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911002738/https://www.gov.gs/docsarchive/Legislation/SGSSI%20Gazette%20No%202%20dated%2023%20December%202020.pdf |archive-date=11 September 2021}} It is one of eleven public holidays in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, appointed by the Governor in Council.{{cite web |title=Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance 1977 section 73 |url=https://www.gov.gs/docsarchive/Legislation/1977%20Interpretation%20and%20General%20Clauses%20Ordinance%201977.pdf |access-date=11 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911155752/https://www.gov.gs/docsarchive/Legislation/1977%20Interpretation%20and%20General%20Clauses%20Ordinance%201977.pdf |archive-date=11 September 2021 |quote=The Governor in Council may from time to time, by notice in the Gazette, appoint any day to be a public holiday. |page=25 |language=en |date=11 July 1977 |url-status=live}}

The holiday marks the end of the toothfish (Dissostichus, also called Chilean sea bass) fishing season.{{Cite tweet |author=HM Governor's Office, Falkland Islands |author-link=Government House, Falkland Islands |user=GHFalklands |number=1169417569645793280 |date=4 September 2019 |title=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 |language=en |location=Government House, Falklands |access-date=12 September 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912212627/https://twitter.com/GHFalklands/status/1169417569645793280 |archive-date=12 September 2021}} Locals (who at this time of year number around 16) celebrate with a toast. Some bake gingerbread toothfish cookies.{{Cite tweet |last=Gregory |first=Sue |author-link= |user=otolith_nerd |number=1036960531146530817 |title=Happy #Toothfish Day! Gingerbread Dissostichus eleginoides in honour of the #SouthGeorgia public holiday that celebrates this mighty #fish! |language=en |location=Falklands |access-date=12 September 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912215149/https://twitter.com/otolith_nerd/status/1036960531146530817 |archive-date=12 September 2021}} The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) celebrates with a Toothfish Day Reception at Government House in Stanley.{{cite web |title=Toothfish Day Reception |url=https://www.gov.gs/toothfish-day-reception/ |website=Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands |access-date=10 September 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911001058/https://www.gov.gs/toothfish-day-reception/ |archive-date=11 September 2021 |location=Stanley, Falkland Islands |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Jeffrey |first1=Helen |title=Toothfish Day |url=https://helenanddavidinthesouthatlantic.wordpress.com/2020/09/13/toothfish-day/ |website=Helen and David in the South Atlantic |publisher=WordPress |access-date=13 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913141048/https://helenanddavidinthesouthatlantic.wordpress.com/2020/09/13/toothfish-day/ |archive-date=13 September 2021 |location=Stanley, Falkland Islands |language=en |date=13 September 2020 |url-status=live}} The reception includes a quiz,{{cite news |archive-date=11 September 2021 |title=South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands mark Toothfish Day |url=https://en.mercopress.com/2016/09/07/south-georgia-the-south-sandwich-islands-mark-toothfish-day |access-date=12 September 2021 |publisher=MercoPress |date=7 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911160743/https://en.mercopress.com/2016/09/07/south-georgia-the-south-sandwich-islands-mark-toothfish-day |location=Montevideo, Uruguay |language=en |url-status=live}} a toast, spin the bottle, and a menu featuring many dishes made with toothfish.{{cite web |author1=Falkland Islands Television (FITV) |title=The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Celebrate Toothfish Day |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flc0vl3yYy0 |website=YouTube |access-date=12 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912171420/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flc0vl3yYy0 |archive-date=12 September 2021 |location=Stanley, Falkland Islands |language=en |date=12 December 2019 |url-status=live}}{{Cite tweet |author=HM Governor's Office, Falkland Islands |author-link=Government House, Falkland Islands |user=GHFalklands |number=1169417615401521153 |date=4 September 2019 |title=Government House #Falklands chef Carlos, cooked delicious #PatagonianToothfish for this evening's @GovSGSSI reception to mark #Toothfish Day. #SGSSI |trans-title= |language=en |retweet= |location=Government House, Falklands |access-date=12 September 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912212555/https://twitter.com/GHFalklands/status/1169417615401521153 |archive-date=12 September 2021}} GSGSSI also holds meetings and a reception in London to mark the occasion.

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. The holiday dates back to at least 2012, when it was called "Toothfish (end of season) Day" and took place on 14 September.{{cite web |last1=Paul |first1=Richard |title=Public Holidays 2012 |url=https://www.gov.gs/docsarchive/Legislation/SGGSI%20Gazette%20No%202%20dated%204%20December%202012.pdf |website=Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands |access-date=13 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913142151/https://www.gov.gs/docsarchive/Legislation/SGGSI%20Gazette%20No%202%20dated%204%20December%202012.pdf |archive-date=13 September 2021 |location=Stanley, Falkland Islands |page=2 |language=en |date=4 December 2012 |quote=14 September Toothfish (end of season) Day |url-status=live}} The holiday replaced a previously undesignated bank holiday.{{cite web |title=South Georgia Newsletter, September 2015 |url=https://www.gov.gs/sept-15-newsletter/ |website=Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands |access-date=13 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913143637/https://www.gov.gs/sept-15-newsletter/ |archive-date=13 September 2021 |location=Stanley, Falkland Islands |language=en |date=September 2015 |url-status=live}} It remained under that name and stayed in mid-September{{cite web |last1=Haywood |first1=Nigel Robert |author1-link=Nigel Haywood |title=Public Holidays 2013/Public Holidays 2014 |url=https://www.gov.gs/docsarchive/Legislation/SGGSI%20Gazette%20No%202%20dated%2013%20June%202013.pdf |website=Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands |access-date=13 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913144113/https://www.gov.gs/docsarchive/Legislation/SGGSI%20Gazette%20No%202%20dated%2013%20June%202013.pdf |archive-date=13 September 2021 |location=Stanley, Falkland Islands |page=3 |language=en |date=30 May 2013 |url-status=live}} until 2015 when it was instituted as simply Toothfish Day and moved to 4 September.{{cite web |last1=Roberts |first1=Colin |author1-link=Colin Roberts (diplomat) |title=Public Holidays 2015 |url=https://www.gov.gs/docsarchive/Legislation/SGSSI%20Gazette%20No1%20dated%2025th%20July%202014.pdf |website=Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands |access-date=13 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913144556/https://www.gov.gs/docsarchive/Legislation/SGSSI%20Gazette%20No1%20dated%2025th%20July%202014.pdf |location=Stanley, Falkland Islands |page=2 |language=en |date=11 July 2014 |url-status=live |archive-date=13 September 2021}}