National Seafood Week proved once again to be one of the biggest and most exciting events of the seafood calendar in 2005. The annual week held from 1st-8th October immersed people across the UK in the wonderful benefits seafood has to offer.

Organised by the Seafish Industry Authority, Seafood Week is designed to make people aware of the wonderful array of seafood available from our waters. The theme "Feeling Good with Seafood" fully captures all the benefits seafood offers - from the fact that it is one of the most versatile and simplest of foods to cook to the myriad of health benefits it offers. Fronted by Antony Worrall Thompson the UK-wide campaign contained all the ingredients for the perfect recipe for success.

Northern Ireland Seafood (NIS) co-ordinated the campaign locally, launching proceedings in Belfast's historic St George's Market on the 1st of October. This instigated a fun filled week of activity which included retail promotions and tasting sessions across the Province in various Supervalu, Safeway and Tesco stores. A gourmet seafood evening in the unique venue of W5 at the Odyssey arena, Belfast in association with Tesco also attracted a large crowd. Michelin starred chef Robbie Millar of 'Shanks' restaurant, Bangor delighted the audience with his delicious dishes such as the "Tuna Tartare" and "Fritto Misto". During the interval guests were treated to a taste of the Mediterranean when Alfredo's Mediterranean Catering Company provided some delectable seafood tapas including a huge seafood paella.

NIS also undertook an intensive media campaign encompassing TV and radio media as well as coverage in all major newspapers which ensured the "Felling Good with Seafood" message stretched across the entire country.

Radio "cook ins" and competitions were broadcast live from the studio kitchens of both Downtown Radio and BBC Radio Foyle. In order to highlight that you can cook a Lemon Sole quicker than you can boil an egg. Derek Patterson of the Plough Hillsborough cooked up Pan Seared Herring in a flash; Ivan Taylor from Browns restaurant, Londonderry created a delicious roasted Plaice dish in less than 5 minutes.

Jamie McGuigan and Louise Farr (NIS) get in the mood for Seafood Week outside Sawers fishmongers in Belfast. Photograph: Brian Larkin Photography

In order to ensure children did not miss out on the important Seafood Week message, NIS in conjunction with Exploris and the Morton Newspaper group ran a competition in 10 newspapers. Children had to complete a "fish" word search of key terms and the prize for 10 lucky winners was a family ticket to Exploris, Northern Ireland's only aquarium.

NIS felt that Seafood Week 2005 once again proved to be a resounding success with increased media exposure ensuring fish fever washed over the entire Province. With more people becoming involved in the various activities it helped to raise the profile of seafood and ensured that people are well aware that seafood really is the healthiest and tastiest of meal options. NIS look forward to building upon this success in Seafood Week 2005 which will be held from 7th-14th of October.