The fall means the start of industry season in the Pacific Northwest, and the Pacific Marine Expo is one of the local mainstays. Hosted at the CenturyLink Field Event Center from November 16 through 18 this year, the extensive lineup is aimed primarily at the commercial side of the maritime sphere with a blend of professional and fun offerings.
Notable installments to this year’s expo is keynote speaker Chris Oliver, the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries at that National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). Oliver will be speaking on November 16 at 1500 hours to discuss NOAA’s priorities moving forward and the importance of Alaskan and West Coast fisheries.
For seafood fans, the Seattle Kitchen Radio show with the culinary talents of James Beard Award winners Tom Douglas and Thierry Rautureau will be a must. New to this year is the Alaska Hall, an area entirely devoted to Alaskan products and services.
Don’t forget that the Fisherman’s Lounge and the Pacific Marine Expo Happy Hours are quality networking opportunities. Of course, the expo will host the annual Fisherman of the Year Contest, a virtual triathlon of rope splicing, net mending, and blindfolded knot tying. Winner of each event gets $100 cash and moves onto compete in the final round – the survival suit challenge.
With over 450 exhibitors (over 20 of which are new this year) and a jam-packed itinerary, the Pacific Marine Expo 2017 appears to be doing quite well. The full schedule of events is available online at pacificmarineexpo.com. If you pre-register online, your admission is free. If you wait to pay at the door or online during the expo, you’ll pay $30. Admission grants you unlimited access to the exhibit hall, all the events, happy hours, and educational seminars.
