ComFish Opens in New Venue

Erik Wander/KMXT

The newly opened Kodiak Harbor Convention Center was a flurry of activity Wednesday, with ComFish Alaska exhibitors setting up their booths in preparation for opening day.

KMXT’s Erik Wander has more.

This year marks the 30th annual ComFish. Debora King, executive director of the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce, discussed how this year’s event will be different from those of previous years and highlighted several aspects that make ComFish special.

— (King 1 49 sec. "The new facility is … the largest fishing ports in the nation.")

On Wednesday afternoon, Kathy Kurtenbach of Alaska Sea Grant College Program said the setup was going well and hoped to have her booth ready within two or three hours. She mentioned her goals as an exhibitor at the event.

— (Kurtenbach 1 38 sec. "What I hope to accomplish … of interest to everyone.")

Tommy Lee of S and W Wilson Enterprises, a supplier ofmarine life support, filtration and refrigeration systems based Brooklyn, New York, said it was the company’s first time exhibiting at ComFish and their first visit to Kodiak.

— (Lee 1 20 sec. "We do a lot of refrigeration … know a little bit about Kodiak.")

At one booth, Birch Foster of Fish and Game and Gary Byrne of Kodiak Regional Aquaculture Association were setting up a fish tank. Byrne said several different types of fish would be on display, while Foster talked about what Fish and Game hoped to present to the public.

— (Foster/Byrne 1 50 sec. "Let’s see, what fish … the we’re doing on the island.")

Officer Tim Gould of NOAA Fisheries Enforcement described the organization’s role as an exhibitor as showing a uniform presence and providing information to fisherman and the public, ranging from enforcement to regulations on whale viewing.

— (Gould 1 30 sec. "We’re based out of Kodiak … as well as enforcement.")

The 30th annual ComFish opens Thursday (today) at 10 a.m. at the convention center on Marine Way between Rezanof and Shelikof and will include a total of 32 exhibitors. There will also be daily forums on a range of topics, including Alaskan seafood marketing, offshore drilling, marine mammals, Pebble Mine and Exxon Valdez litigation and claims. For a complete list of exhibitors and forums, visit our website, kmxt dot org.

I’m Erik Wander.

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