It’s back! The Dorset Seafood Festival is set to return.

Now in its 13th year, the award-winning festival will take place around Weymouth Harbour in July.

Attracting an estimated 60,000 visitors over the weekend, the festival focuses on incredible seafood and sustainability; it helps to educate festival visitors about fishing, seafood and the coast, whilst also raising money for the Fishermen’s Mission charity.

This year’s event will have an emphasis on hand-dived scallops.

Lyme Bay is one of the largest protected areas in British waters, and the festival hopes to unlock some of its secrets.

Festival organisers say scallops are a ‘true seafood treasure and diver-caught scallops should be the go-to option for all seafood lovers’, and so chefs will be showcasing the best of the product, from preparation to searing.

Sales director Laura Avant said: “We are welcoming many of our regular stand holders who will be joined by some exciting new additions.

"We do look in detail at the menus on offer to ensure the festival’s sustainability rules are adhered to.

"Stands are checked over the weekend for these criteria and the best ones will be presented with a sustainability award at our awards’ ceremony in the autumn.”

The festival has also announced a further year’s support from title sponsor and English sparkling wine producer Nyetimber. The festival says it is a ‘champion of excellence’, and therefore this award-winning English sparkling wine is ‘a perfect fit.’ Nyetimber has been creating English sparkling wine for more than 30 years across the south of England.

Brian Cooper, festival director, said: “We welcome this fantastic brand once again as title sponsor of the Dorset Seafood Festival. Nyetimber’s award-winning English sparkling wines are the perfect accompaniment to seafood”.

In addition to the title sponsor, the seafood festival is also being backed by Hall & Woodhouse, Seafish, Weird Fish and Dream Cottages.

The Dorset Seafood Festival will take place from July 11-12.