This year’s fishing industry exhibitions aren’t taking place – for obvious reasons as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to spread.
Three events that were scheduled for May have now been postponed, following the postponements of Boston and Brussels seafood exhibitions and the Irish Skipper Expo.
Now the Scottish Skipper Expo 2020, scheduled for 15-16th May and due to be held for the first time in Aberdeen’s P&J Live Arena has been pulled.
‘It is with great regret that we’ve decided to postpone Scottish Skipper Expo 2020. The wellbeing of our exhibitors and visitors is paramount,’ said Mara Media’s managing director Hugh Bonner, commenting that as the overwhelming priority is the health and safety of exhibitors, visitors and the wider public, this left no other option than to postpone the show.
‘Postponing now also brings an end to any uncertainty among exhibitors and visitors about whether the expo was going ahead on the planned dates. We value tremendously the support of everyone involved in Scottish Skipper Expo and we would like to thank them for their patience during this challenging time,’ he said.
The May AquacultureUK 2020 event in Aviemore has been postponed and a new 15-17th September date has already been announced for this year’s exhibition.
Vigo’s international shipbuilding exhibition Navalia have also announced a new 27-29th October date for their event, which would otherwise have taken place in May.
According to organising company Muéstralo, the six-month postponement allows exhibitors a breathing space to make new arrangements well in advance.
‘We hope that the measures governments are taking, as well as citizens’ social responsibility, will be effective in mitigating this pandemic. In addition, we believe this global outbreak with its multiple economic and social consequences will see many companies working with renewed energy once this is all over,’ a spokesman for Muéstralo’s board of directors said.
‘The Navalia International Shipbuilding Exhibition was established with a firm commitment to the sector, and since the first event it has not stopped growing. We have attempted to go forward in each new exhibition and decisions made throughout these years, such as the one concerning us now, have been for the good of a sector we love and which we have supported from the outset.’
