2020 Seafood Expo Global canceled

The 2020 edition of Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global has been canceled by organizer Diversified Communications.

Diversified made the announcement on 16 April, after initially postponing the event – originally scheduled to take place in Brussels, Belgium from 21 to 23 April – due to the global outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

“[We have] reluctantly determined that the continued and expanding magnitude of the public health and safety issues caused by COVID-19 worldwide now requires the cancellation of the 2020 edition of Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global,” Diversified Communications Group Vice President Liz Plizga said in a press release.

Plizga cited a 15 April announcement from Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès forbidding mass gatherings through the summer as the impetus for Diversified’s move to cancel.

“When we announced the postponement of the 2020 event, we hoped to reschedule to later this year. Given the recent announcement that the limitation on large gatherings in Brussels has been extended through 31 August, 2020, and the ongoing impacts of COVID–19, including global travel restrictions, and the broad need to practice physical distancing, we have concluded it is impossible to hold the event,” Plizga said. “The complexities of organizing a safe, global, seafood event drawing seafood professionals from more than 158 countries in the midst of a pandemic pose too many insurmountable hurdles. We are disappointed to concede that hosting a 2020 edition of the event is infeasible.”

Plizga said Diversified will be contacting companies that were planning on exhibiting at the expo to give them more information about the cancelation. She also said planning has advanced on Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global’s move to Barcelona, Spain, for 2021.

“While we all continue to navigate this difficult situation, the Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global team is engaged in intensive planning for the next edition, scheduled for 27-29 April, 2021, in our beautiful new location, Fira Barcelona Gran Via, in Barcelona, Spain,” Plizga said in a letter to exhibitors. “We wish you all good health and look forward to seeing you in Barcelona in 2021.”

Portland, Maine, U.S.A.-based Diversified Communications owns and operates a portfolio of face-to-face exhibitions and conferences for a number of industries. In seafood, its trade events include Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America – scheduled for September 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., and Seafood Expo Asia. It also operates online and print publications including SeafoodSource, National Fisherman, and WorkBoat magazine.