| Object Title: Patagonian Toothfish |
| Object Number: 2022.29 |
The South Georgia Museum Object of the Month for September Is a Patagonian Toothfish made from a cast of a large adult fish by taxidermist Steve Massam. Toothfish are a slow-growing, long-lived species. This one was caught in South Georgia waters at a depth of around 1000 metres. A fish of this size is likely to be around 40 to 50 years old.
The timing is appropriate as 4 September is a bank holiday called ‘Toothfish Day’ in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The holiday marks the end of the Toothfish fishing season in the waters around the islands. It was created to acknowledge the importance of the Patagonian Toothfish fishery to the island’s economy and to highlight the sustainable fishing practices of the industry in the territory. The South Georgia Toothfish fishery is recognised as one of the best managed fisheries in the world and is MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) certified.
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