The expo, which was held on 1-2 March, attracted 117 exhibitors – an increase of 25 compared with the previous year. The stands and displays proved a major pull for visitors with an estimated 4,000 people attending over the two days.
Sharon Boyle of show organiser Mara Media said: “This was a truly incredible show and as well as the excellent turnout from visitors from fishing ports throughout Ireland, we were particularly pleased at the number of people from Scotland and other parts of the UK.”
This was the ninth annual Galway show and there were 25 first time exhibitors at the event, which highlighted the underlying vibrancy still present in the fishing industry. One of these new exhibitors was American company Riverdale Mills, who manufacture Aquamesh®, a range of engineered wire mesh products constructed for marine use and which are ideal for lobster and crab pots, fish pens and shellfish trays.
James Knott, Jr., Executive Vice President, Riverdale Mills Corp., said: “This was our first time attending the show and we were very impressed with the keen interest that many of the visitors had in our Aquamesh® products. Our stand was filled with visitors the entire time and many commented on the quality our products and its time saving and practical uses for making lobster traps, crab creels, and aquaculture trays and pens. The show was a huge success and we look forward to coming back next year.”
Also exhibiting for the first time was Irish company EK Marine Ltd. The company’s Fionnuala Cunningham said: “We were very impressed with the overall setup of stands and the support that the Hotel offered to all exhibitors. Well done to organisers Sharon Boyle and Hugh Bonner on a job well done. We received a lot of interest in the Hydraulic Services offered by EK Marine and a huge response to the range of engines on display, to which we received several orders and enquires. The expo attracted a lot of visitors and we were very happy with the response and positive feedback we received.”
Sharon Boyle said: “We would like to offer huge thanks to all exhibitors and visitors to the Galway expo. I would particularly like to thank the support of BIM, our show sponsor, who had a stand and their coastal training unit at the expo.
“Next year will be the 10th Galway expo and we have already had numerous enquiries from exhibitors about attending that event.”
For the more immediate future, all eyes are now turning to Skipper Expo Int. Aberdeen 2013 show in Scotland, which will be staged on 10-11 May 2013 at the Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre (AECC). Stand space is filling up fast and it is anticipated that it too will have a particularly strong visitor attendance, now that it is a well-established event in the fishing industry calendar.
Later in the year (25-26 October) Mara Media is also hosting the Skipper Expo Int. Bristol – a totally new show focusing on English and Welsh fishing communities. It too is attracting strong interest.
