Seafood Expo North America, Seafood Expo Global postponed to later in 2021

The 2021 editions of Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America and Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, have been postponed to later in the year.

Seafood Expo North America, which had been scheduled for 14 to 16 March, 2021, in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., will now take place in the summer of 2021. The event’s organizer, Diversified Communications, is working closely with the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center to find new dates for the event in mid-July. [Editor’s note: Diversified Communications also owns and operates SeafoodSource].

Seafood Expo Global, originally planned for 27 to 29 April, 2021, will now be held 7 to 9 September at its new venue, as planned – the Gran Via in Barcelona, Spain. The new dates were chosen based on the availability of the venue to host such a large-scale event, Diversified said.

“Today, Diversified Communications … has determined that the continued magnitude of the public health and safety issues caused by COVID-19 requires the postponement of the spring events to later dates in 2021,” Diversified said in a 2 November press release.

Diversified Group Vice President Liz Plizga said her company is committed to hosting events important to the seafood industry as soon as it is possible to do so.

“We have been closely monitoring the world health situation, government regulations and travel restrictions while carefully considering the concerns that have been addressed to us by customers and attendees,” Plizga said.  “It has become evident that it was necessary to reschedule these events.”

Plizga said Diversified is working to ensure the revised dates for the 2021 Seafood Expo North America offer the same day pattern of Sunday through Tuesday, as has been the precedent for the event.

“It is intended that the postponed event will maintain its traditional format with three days featuring a comprehensive exhibit hall, alongside a conference program and special events,” the company said. “New dates for the event will be communicated to the seafood community as soon as they are confirmed.”

As in previous editions, Seafood Expo North America will feature an educational conference during the in-person event in Boston.  To keep the seafood community connected and informed, Diversified will host an additional conference component, called Seafood Expo North America Reconnect, that will take place online during the week of 14 March, 2021, according to Diversified Communications Event Director Wynter Courmont. Additionally, Courmont said an in-person educational conference program will be introduced at Seafood Expo Global for the first time in 2021.

“We’re listening to our customers and our community and recognize that there continues to be a demand for quality educational content. We’re looking forward to delivering on this need with a virtual conference, which will be delivered over the original dates of Seafood Expo North America,” Courmont said. “While an online conference does not replace the experience of bringing the industry together in person, it is our hope that we can be of service to the seafood community while we work to bring traditional editions of Seafood Expo North America and Seafood Expo Global back safely for later in 2021.”

Plizga said Diversified will continue plans for 2021 with the COVID-19 pandemic top-of-mind, and that its plan is to host the 2022 editions of both events in the same time frame as in past years – in March 2022 for Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America and in April 2022 for Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global.

“Like many event organizers, we are always exploring contingency plans to provide business continuity for our seafood community,” Plizga said. “We are committed to delivering in-person events in 2021 and are working with the venues and the appropriate authorities to ensure the health and safety of our customers, attendees, vendors, employees, and local communities.”