March 25, 2020 — The International Seafood Buyers Luncheon, which for years has showcased the city’s fishing industry and seafood processing plants, has been cancelled due to concerns about the coronavirus.
It is one of the first cancellations locally due to the infectious disease first identified in Wuhan, China at the end of last year which has since spread across the globe.
One SouthCoast Chamber posted the cancellation on its website, and Ian Abreu, manager of business development and small business engagement at the Chamber and a New Bedford City Council, confirmed it was due to concerns about the coronavirus. The New Bedford event had been scheduled for Friday. Rick Kidder, co-chief executive officer, did not return calls for comment.
The cancellation of the New Bedford luncheon and tour is a trickle-down effect after the postponement of the Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, scheduled to be held March 15-17 in Boston, because of concern over the coronavirus, according to Edward Anthes-Washburn, executive director of the Port of New Bedford.
Typically, some 40 to 50 buyers would come to New Bedford, get an overview of the city’s port, enjoy a luncheon and tour five or six seafood processing plants, he said. This would have been the 15th year New Bedford has hosted the event.