Irish companies involved in the seafood industry were offered a "match making" service, introducing them to potential partners in Europe at a Seafood Business Forum in Cork yesterday.

As Europe is the largest export market for Irish seafood and is worth more than £200 million to Ireland each year the forum will provide Irish fisheries companies with a unique opportunity.

The two-day forum is hosted by Bord Iascaigh Mhara and will see 43 Irish companies in the seafood, seaweed and services sectors introduced to more than 100 visiting companies from EU countries, Norway, Canada, Iceland, China and the Unites States.