Saving Seafood

“No Show Fish Show” seeks silver lining in Seafood Expo North America postponement

March 11, 2020 — A number of seafood companies that were planning on exhibiting at or holding events during Seafood Expo North America in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. – postponed by organizer Diversified Communications last week due to the COVID-19 outbreak – are going ahead with online versions of those meetings and live social media demonstrations.

In an effort being coordinated by Jennifer Bushman, principal of Route to Market, a strategic development consultant for aquaculture companies, this ad hoc group of seafood companies have joined together on a social media and publicity campaign dubbed the “No Show Fish Show.”

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Important Update: Seafood Expo Global Postponed

March 10, 2020 — The following was released by Diversified Communications:

Dear Seafood Community,

Diversified Communications has made the very difficult decision that, due to the magnitude of the unanticipated public health and safety issues posed by the rapidly escalating COVID-19 outbreaks and contagion, we have no choice but to postpone the upcoming edition of Seafood Expo Global and Seafood Processing Global, which was planned to take place on 21-23 April 2020 at the Brussels Expo in Belgium. The Belgium government has affirmed the risk the outbreak poses with its issuance today of advice to cancel indoor events with more than 1,000 people to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. In order to preserve business continuity for our community, we will inform you directly of the new 2020 dates by no later than 18 March 2020 and will post the dates on our website as well.

Please look for important follow up communications from Diversified with logistical details relating to the rescheduled event. We understand that you may have further questions; if so, please continue to reach us at info-global@seafoodexpo.com. We thank you in advance for your patience as we try to respond to each of you in a timely manner.

We value the support of everyone involved in the making of this event ­­ our vendors, the local authorities, the venue and, most of all, our partners, friends and customers in the seafood industry. We are looking forward to getting this strong seafood community back together in the near future. Until then, we send heartfelt thoughts to those who are affected by COVID-19.

Liz Plizga
Group Vice President
Diversified Communications

Read more at Seafood Source

Concerns about coronavirus spur postponement of Seafood Expo in Boston

March 4, 2020 — Out of concerns about the coronavirus, the 40th edition of Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, scheduled to take place March 15-17 in Boston, has been postponed, organizers announced Tuesday.

The event, which brings together seafood buyers and suppliers from all over the world, was to have been held at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, but media company Diversified Communications said in a news release that “After many weeks of monitoring the evolving situation around COVID-19 and evaluating the full spectrum of feedback we received among hundreds of calls and emails, we have decided that the (Expo) … will not take place in March and is postponed while we look at other options.”

The release went on to say that the decision was difficult “because of the major importance of this event to the industry. We heard from those of you who were concerned about health, safety and travel restrictions, and given the short time before the scheduled event date, and upcoming logistics, we have determined that postponement at this time is unavoidable.”

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

Seafood Expo North America postponed

March 3, 2020 — Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, scheduled to take place 15 to 17 March in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., has been postponed by the event’s organizer, Diversified Communications.

The decision was made on 3 March in response to growing concerns over the global COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, according to Diversified Communications Group Vice President Liz Plizga.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Seafood Expo North America prepared for coronavirus impacts

February 28, 2020 — Diversified Communications, the company that organizes Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America (SENA) each year, said it is prepared for potential impacts to the event caused by COVID-19, commonly known as coronavirus.

The Expo, which will take place from 15 to 17 March, has been the subject of speculation regarding the coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Rumors that the Expo could be cancelled, or that the event has been heavily impacted, are ”simply not true,” according to Mary Larkin, president, Diversified Communications USA.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Boston Seafood Show Organizers Recommend ‘No-Contact, No-Handshake Policy’

February 26, 2020 — There will be a lot of waving going on at Seafood Expo North America in Boston next month. Diversified Communications, the organizers of the Boston Seafood Show, released yet another update for attendees and exhibitors who are concerned about the coronavirus and the upcoming event.

The latest recommendation from Diversified? “No-contact, no-handshake policy.”

Read the full story at Seafood News

12 finalists to compete for 2020 Seafood Excellence Awards

February 25, 2020 — Twelve finalists will go head-to-head for the 2020 Seafood Excellence Awards on Sunday, 15 March, at Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America in Boston, Massachusetts, according to event organizer Diversified Communications.

Seventy entries were submitted for this year’s Seafood Excellence Awards, a prestigious competition recognizing the best new seafood products available in the North American market. The remaining 12 finalists will compete before a three-person panel of expert judges in two categories: Best New Foodservice Product and Best New Retail Product.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Diversified Communications puts coronavirus plan in place for Seafood Expo North America

January 31, 2020 — Seafood Expo North America organizer Diversified Communications said on 31 January the novel coronavirus outbreak has not affected its plans to host North America’s largest seafood expo, slated to take place 15 to 17 March at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC) in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

The coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, has spread rapidly in China and isolated cases have been found in other parts of the world, including eight in North America. “Diversified Communications has been responding to public safety situations for many years and has an effective crisis management protocol in place,” Diversified Communications Seafood Group Vice President Liz Plizga told SeafoodSource. “We have great confidence in our partnerships with the cities and local authorities where our events take place, and we will continue to update our customers on new developments. We look forward to a safe and successful event.”

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Diversified Communications cancels Seafood Expo Asia 2019 edition

August 21, 2019 — Diversified Communications, which operates several seafood trade shows around the globe, has made the decision to cancel this year’s Seafood Expo Asia, which was scheduled to take place in Hong Kong from 3 to 5 September, 2019.

The move was made in response to ongoing social unrest in Hong Kong and careful analysis of the current situation, pending protests, and the impacts on the event, Diversified Group Vice President Liz Plizga said.

Read the full story at Seafood Source