The Commercial Marine Expo (formerly the Fish Expo Atlantic) is June 9-10 on the State Pier and features hundreds of exhibits, seminars, film screenings and workshops. The business-to-business trade show for professionals who earn their living on the working waterfront was formerly held in Providence, and the move to New Bedford already appears to be paying dividends: The 50,000-square-feet of inside booth exhibit halls sold out weeks ago. "We now have a waiting list — that's unprecedented in the event's 42-year history, and representative of the enthusiasm we're seeing for a commercial marine show in the Northeast," said Ted Hugger, show director.

In addition to moving the event to New Bedford, which allows exhibitors direct access to the water (including outside displays on the pier aprons and in-water space on floats and piers), Hugger, who bought the show in 2007, previously expanded the scope of the show to embrace all commercial marine businesses — fishing and fish processing, tug and barge operations, fire, police and harbor security, marine construction, military, ferry, freight, pilot and port operations.

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