The 2016 Skipper Expo Int. in Bournemouth is set to get underway at the end of this week (28 and 29 October) and promises to attract visitors from all over England, Wales and beyond.
Held in the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC), the expo will feature exhibitors from such diverse sectors such as marine electronics, engine suppliers, safety equipment, creels, chandlery and deck machinery.
One of the major attractions will be the boat displays that will form an important centrepiece within the exhibition hall.
Safety will be very much a key theme of this year’s expo with the RNLI concentrating on Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs), liferafts and Man Overboard Recovery. Seafish will also be on hand with practical tips and advice on how to stay safe out at sea.
The Seafish Safety and Training team will also be exhibiting model boats which can be used by fishermen to experiment how alterations to their vessels can affect the weight distribution and floatation.
Meanwhile the Shellfish Association of Great Britain will host a meeting focused on issues facing the shellfish sector. The meeting will discuss a wide range of issues affecting crab, lobster and other shell fisheries, including the potential implications of Brexit. The session will be held on Friday 28 October from 11am to 2pm.
Another star attraction will be the special Seafood Buffet for exhibitors and their invited guests, which will take place in the Purbeck Lounge (right next to the exhibiting hall) on Friday 28 October with food served at 5.30pm and music from 6pm.
Skipper Expo Int. Bournemouth 2016 will be officially opened by Sheryll Murray, the MP for south-east Cornwall, who is a well-known supporter of the fishing industry.
‘A huge thank you to all the exhibitors for their fantastic support for this year’s Skipper Expo Int. Bournemouth. It promises to be an absolutely superb event,’ said Mara Media show organiser Sharon Boyle.
There is free entry to the show, with opening times of 10am to 5pm on Friday 28 October, and 10am to 4pm on Saturday 29 October. The expo will be held in the Purbeck Hall in the BIC and visitor registration is now open.
