Fish Festivals of the World: Celebrating Fish

Each year, hundreds of fish and seafood “festivals” are held around the world.  Many of these have ties to earlier days in which periodic, local abundances of fish- primarily related to spawning or spawning runs- led fishers to these congregations.  Other festivals are associated with religious or secular holidays that mark important events on the calendar.  These festivals are of interest and importance in understanding traditional cultures.  In recent years many festivals have been promoted to bring tourists to specific communities.  This occurs in both developed and undeveloped countries and reflects a change in culture worldwide, toward a more tourism-based appreciation of natural resources.  Herein, I describe geographic and temporal trends in these celebrations of fish (and seafood).