2021 Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America canceled

This year’s version of Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, scheduled for 11 to 13 July, 2021, has been canceled by organizer Diversified Communications.

The next edition of the expo will take place 13 to 15 March, 2022, according to Diversified.

“In light of ongoing public health concerns caused by the pandemic, Diversified Communications, organizer of Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, has reluctantly determined it would be impossible to hold an event in Boston this July,” the Portland, Maine, U.S.A.-based company said. [Editor's note: Diversified Communications also owns and operates SeafoodSource].

The 2020 edition of the event was canceled and the 2021 version was originally scheduled for March 2021, but was postponed to July after Diversified  "determined that the continued magnitude of the public health and safety issues caused by COVID-19 require[d] the postponement" of the event.

“We were determined to host an in-person event for our seafood community and have worked diligently over the past several months seeking a way to safely make the July 2021 edition happen,” Diversified Communications Group Vice President Liz Plizga said. “However, current COVID restrictions limiting the capacity of indoor venues and the state of the reopening plan for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as related to convention facilities, have recently made it evident that we cannot move forward with planning an event like ours.”  

Plizga said her company has conducted outreach with exhibitors and customers, including high-volume buyers in retail and foodservice, who have confirmed “they will be ready to meet in-person in 2022,” according to Diversified.

“Buyers have expressed the importance and unique value of meeting face-to-face in maintaining current relationships and finding new products and suppliers at the event,” the company said.

Last month, Diversified debuted Seafood Expo North America Reconnect, which included an online digital conference program to provide seafood buyers, suppliers, and stakeholders a platform for in-depth industry content and, conversations on emerging trends.

“We recognize that business continuity is important to our seafood community, and until we meet again in-person in Boston, we will be reviewing opportunities to connect buyers and sellers digitally,” added Plizga.

Diversified Communications’ Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, the world’s largest seafood event, is scheduled to take place in Barcelona, Spain, from 7 to 9 September, 2021.