Seafood extravaganza at Seafest 2016

A two-day interactive showcase of all things seafood takes places in the Big Top on the Docks in Galway July 2-3, as part of Seafest 2016.

Hosted by BIM, Ireland’s Sea Fisheries Board, this seafood experience explains how seafood is both caught and farmed, and how sustainability is vital to protecting stocks. The educational tour includes custom-built cinemas showing Tails from the Deep – a short movie giving an exclusive glimpse into the life of an Irish fisherman. And animated character, ‘Professor O’Mara’s Undersea Farm’ will explain how Ireland’s world famous oysers, mussels and salmon are farmed.

BIM’s Seafood Experience at Seafest 2015

The daily event also includes live lobster v-notching demonstrations. In 2015, 30,000 lobsters were returned to sea under BIM’s conservation programme. Participating fishermen are paid grant-aid to v-notch female lobsters and return the animals to the sea to breed.

Also in the ‘big top’ will be visual and hands-on exhibitions explaining how fishermen and seafood producers are embracing sustainability throughout their businesses. These include BIM’s Fishing for Litter and Green Seafood Business Programme initiaitives, and fishing net technology that is environmentally friendly.

In partnership with Bord Bia, celebrity TV chefs Martin Shanahan and Rory O’Connell will give seafood cookery demonstrations over the two days. They will be joined by Michael O’Meara, chef and owner of Oscar’s Seafood Bistro in Galway and winner of the Gourmand World Seafood Cookbook Awards for Sea Gastronomy. BIM’s Young Fishmonger 2015, Gerard Collier of Fisherman’s Catch, will also demonstrate filleting techniques and prepare a range of dishes using locally-sourced seafood. 

Visitors will also have the chance purchase seafood products from sixteen Irish seafood companies, and sample novel seafood products such as beer based on seaweed and salmon sausages.

A key part of BIM’s presence at Seafood 2016 will be promoting safety at sea by demonstrating their new compact Personal Flotation Device with integrated personal locator beacons in a custom-made water pool beside the exhibition area.  In January, a major public awareness and media campaign, Live to tell the tale, focussed on the dangers of sea fishing. Over the past ten years, fifty-three fishermen have lost their lives at sea.