According to organizers, the event was intended to raise awareness of the city's seafood industry and let people know the importance of Boston's working waterfront. Approximately 3,100 people attended, an organizer said.

Foundation organizers reached out to industry groups in both New Bedford, and Gloucester in an effort to bring Massachusetts' most profitable, and oldest ports together with the port of Boston.

Saving Seafood joined with the Sustainable Fisheries Association to distribute 1,100 samples of Atlantic Dogfish, prepared according to recipes by New Bedford Chef Fernando Dovale, to festival goers. Dogfish was recently certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), and is considered rebuilt by NOAA.

A gala on Friday evening was attended by numerous industry leaders and seafood buyers as well as U.S. Senator Scott Brown, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, Gloucester Mayor Carolyn Kirk, and Massachusetts Senator Jack Hart, who is well known as the host of the annual South Boston St. Patrick's Day Breakfast.

The event was organized by the non-profit Boston Fisheries Foundation, which says its main task is making sure the Boston Fish Pier remains a vital part of the waterfront and isn't rendered obsolete by continual development in the booming Seaport.

View photos from the event in the Boston Globe