The BIM Seafood Circle recognises and encourages establishments that consistently deliver quality and service to their customers.

There are three categories of membership - Hospitality, Seafood Specialist and Supermarket Seafood Counter, with a total of 175 members nationwide this year. Membership is awarded on an annual basis.

Georgina Campbell, food writer and editor of The Guide, has been commissioned by BIM to assess and select hospitality establishments specialising in seafood to become members of the Seafood Circle.

Hospitality Membership

For 2011 hospitality membership, a key focus will be whether or not an establishment is primarily a 'seafood destination'. The outline criteria for membership include but are not limited to:

• The menu must carry minimum 50% seafood with the emphasis on a range of fresh, seasonal, local fish and shellfish.
• The seafood served must be fresh, of excellent quality and appropriately cooked.
• Menus must be informative and staff knowledgeable about the seafood on offer.
• The establishment and/or the chef/proprietor must have earned a track record for commitment to quality.
• In addition, in line with all GCGuides recommendations, the overall experience is as important as excellence in individual aspects of the hospitality; recommendation therefore includes an element of subjectivity, based on the assessor's experience.

If you feel your restaurant/bar is a candidate for membership in 2011 please forward

• Copies of all menus including specials.
• Details of your seafood suppliers.
• Outline your philosophy of food, especially as it relates to your seafood offering.

The written information requested is a key element in the assessment process and, if deemed of sufficient merit, establishments successful at this initial stage will be listed for an anonymous assessment visit during the coming season.

Existing members are reminded that they also must submit this information in order to be considered for membership in 2011.

Information must be emailed to info@ireland-guide.com or by post to PO Box 6173, Dublin 13, before 30 April 2010. Entries received after this date cannot be considered for membership of the 2011 programme.

Please note that decisions are final and neither GCG nor BIM will enter into correspondence re the selection or non-selection of individual establishments.

Retail Membership

The programme was developed by BIM/Irish Sea Fisheries Board to support and encourage retail and hospitality outlets offering excellent quality seafood and service to their customers. There are two categories of membership for the retail sector.

Applications are now invited for retail membership of the BIM Seafood Circle 2011.

Supermarket Seafood Counter

All multiple, symbol groups and independent supermarkets offering a range of seafood from a wet fish counter, as part of a much greater offering of other foodstuffs, are invited to apply for membership in the Supermarket Seafood Counter category.

Seafood Specialist

The Seafood Specialist category is open to seafood retailers who derive in excess of 60% of their turnover from seafood sales and where the retail portion of their premises does not exceed 250 metres square.

If you feel your premises is a candidate for membership please contact us to request an application form. Closing date for receipt of applications for 2011 membership is 30 April 2010.