KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
It’s ComFish time again. This weekend the fisheries tradeshow takes place at the Kodiak Harbor Convention Center. The ComFish forums will take place at the Kodiak Island Best Western. This year’s locations are a far cry from the borrowed National Guard Tent that housed the very first ComFish.
Alaska’s largest and longest running fisheries trade show has moved from place to place and from date to date over the 28 years of its existence.
The Kodiak Chamber of Commerce started the event in 1980. Chamber executive director Deb King says she’s very pleased with both the date and the venue for this year’s event. She explained that planning for ComFish 2010 started six months ago.
— (Comfish 1 "My first sort …to the folks.")
Kings recruitment trips are successful at luring traders to Kodiak. This year’s tradeshow will feature vendors who’ve taken part in ComFish for 20 years. There are also 12 new vendors participating this year. They’re coming to Kodiak from Sitkinak, and around the U.S., as well as from Canada and as far away as New Zealand.
Helping to organize the fisheries forums is fisheries journalist and radio host Laine Welch, who’s worked on ComFish for the past two decades.
— (Comfish 2 "And people really … a good line-up.")
The list of fisheries policy forums taking place this week is a lengthy one and includes lectures and discussions led by scientists, policy makers, advocates and other experts.
— (Comfish 3 "Again being one … it’s local.")
King and Welch went on to discuss why they think ComFish is worth the months of effort that goes into the annual event.
— (Comfish 4 "There’s so many …on fish. Absolutely.")
ComFish takes place Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The show hours are 10 to 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. On Saturday the hours are morning at 10 to 4.
