Pacific Marine Expo

What Pacific Marine Expo does

Pacific Marine Expo is the largest commercial marine trade show on the U.S. West Coast, held annually at the Seattle Convention Center Arch Building and serving commercial mariners from Alaska to California. Founded in 1974 and presented by National Fisherman News (which traces its editorial lineage to a 1926 newspaper column), the event draws hundreds of exhibitors across categories including boatbuilding and repair, fishing gear, navigation and fish-finding electronics, deck machinery, safety and survival equipment, propulsion, and electrical systems. The 2026 show is scheduled for November 19-21 and utilizes 205,700 sq ft of dedicated heavy-load exhibit space, 70 meeting rooms, and 19 covered loading-dock bays.

The core product is a three-day in-person event combining an exhibit hall, a free three-track Education Program (Commercial Fishing, Ocean Technology, WorkBoat West), and special events such as the Highliner Awards, Coastal Challenge, AMSEA Safety Workshops, the Maritime Industry Economic Forecast Breakfast, and the National Future Fishermen Summit. Sponsorship and advertising inventory is layered on top, with priced SKUs ranging from $315 profile upgrades to $7,000 show video interviews, plus tiered education track sponsorships ($1,500-$4,000), custom blast emails ($2,460-$4,910), and exclusive placements (badges, lanyards, escalator signage, National Fisherman Arena). Booth space pricing is provided on request. Attendee advanced registration is free; onsite registration is $50.

The business is operated by Diversified Communications (headquartered in Portland, Maine) and runs an event-driven go-to-market motion: a dedicated sales team sells booth space and sponsorships to marine industry companies, while National Fisherman's media ecosystem (21,000 newsletter subscribers, 29,000+ social followers) drives attendee registration. Revenue is generated primarily through exhibitor booth fees, sponsorship and advertising packages, and a minor onsite registration fee stream. Customer segments span commercial fishermen, vessel owners/operators, boat builders, shipyards, seafood processors, port officials, maritime students, and military/government buyers across the West Coast and Alaska.

Name

Pacific Marine Expo

Legal name

Pacific Marine Expo

Website

https://pacificmarineexpo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Pacific Marine Expo is the largest commercial marine trade show on the U.S. West Coast, held annually in Seattle and serving commercial fishermen, vessel owners, boat builders, and maritime professionals from Alaska to California. Owned by Diversified Communications and presented by National Fisherman News, it combines an exhibit hall with education tracks and special events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Exhibitor booth and space fees: Companies pay to exhibit at the show, gaining face-to-face access to thousands of commercial fishermen and mariners actively sourcing products. Booth space pricing varies by configuration and location within the venue.
2. Sponsorship and advertising packages: Exhibitors and marine companies purchase sponsorship tiers ranging from $500 to $7,000+, including Main Stage sponsorship, Happy Hour sponsorship, badge sponsorship, lanyard sponsorship, registration area branding, floor stickers, hanging banners, email blast packages, social media posts, and custom video interviews. Education Track sponsorships are available in Silver ($1,500), Gold ($2,500), and Platinum ($4,000) tiers. All sponsorship prices listed are exclusive to contracted exhibitors only.
3. Attendee registration fees: Advanced registration is free. Onsite registration costs $50. The primary value exchange for attendees is access to exhibitors, education sessions, and networking events at no upfront cost.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Pacific Marine Expo is an annual three-day commercial marine trade show held in Seattle, WA, featuring hundreds of exhibitors across categories including boatbuilding, fishing gear, electronics, deck machinery, safety equipment, and propulsion. It is presented by National Fisherman News and complemented by a free three-track Education Program (Commercial Fishing, Ocean Technology, WorkBoat West) and Special Events such as the Highliner Awards Ceremony, Coastal Challenge, AMSEA Safety Workshops, and National Future Fishermen Summit. The event serves commercial fishermen, vessel owners, shipyards, seafood processors, and maritime professionals from Alaska to California.

Product overview

Pacific Marine Expo is an annual commercial marine trade show presented by National Fisherman News and organized by Diversified Communications. The core offering is the three-day expo event featuring hundreds of exhibitors across diverse marine categories, complemented by a free three-track Education Program (Commercial Fishing, Ocean Technology, WorkBoat West), and various Special Events including the Coastal Challenge, Happy Hours, Galley Stories Podcast LIVE, and the Highliner Awards Ceremony. The expo offers tiered sponsorship packages ranging from $500 to $7,000 and exhibitor profile upgrades ($105-$530) to enhance brand visibility. Key branded areas include the National Fisherman Arena, Alaska Hall, and Expo Market Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pacific Marine Expo (Annual Trade Show Event) The annual three-day commercial marine trade show held at the Seattle Convention Center Arch Building, featuring hundreds of exhibitors across categories including boatbuilding, fishing gear, electronics, deck machinery, safety equipment, and propulsion. Serves commercial fishermen, vessel owners, shipyards, seafood processors, and maritime professionals from Alaska to California.
• Education Program A free three-day education program with three tracks (Commercial Fishing, Ocean Technology, WorkBoat West) featuring sessions on regulations, fisheries updates, gear technology, emerging maritime technologies, vessel design, and port operations. Available to all registered expo attendees.
• Special Events Programming Networking and competition events including the Maritime Industry Economic Forecast Breakfast, Happy Hours, Galley Stories Podcast LIVE, Coastal Challenge, We Work the Waterways Industry Interaction Day, AMSEA Safety Workshops, Highliner Awards Ceremony & Dinner, and National Future Fishermen Summit.
• National Fisherman Arena High-traffic branded area on the show floor hosting the Coastal Challenge competition and other interactive activities, available as an exclusive sponsorship opportunity ($6,865).

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Fisherman NewscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPacific Marine Expo is presented by National Fisherman News. National Fisherman is the official publication partner and sister brand, providing editorial authority and audience reach. The publication has covered the commercial fishing industry for nearly 100 years (from a single newspaper column in 1926 to the premier industry publication). The National Fisherman Arena at the expo is sponsored by the publication. National Fisherman reaches 21,000 newsletter subscribers and 29,000+ social followers.
• onPeakminorOthersonPeak is the official and only authorized hotel provider for Pacific Marine Expo 2026, securing discounted rates at selected Seattle hotels. Offers flexible change and cancellation policies. Bookings available separately for attendees and exhibitors. Benefits include pay delay, no fees, support before/during/after event, flexibility, group reservations, and hotel rewards points.
• National Future Fishermen Coalition (NFFC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNFFC is the host organization for the National Future Fishermen Summit at Pacific Marine Expo. The Summit is the first national gathering dedicated to young and future commercial fishermen across the United States. NFFC will have a booth at the expo all three days to connect with attendees, showcase coalition work, and provide career and business resources. The Summit is held Friday, November 20, 11:00am-5:00pm in Ballroom 6E.
• SeaShareminorOthersPacific Marine Expo has partnered with SeaShare for a silent auction at the Highliner Ceremony. All donations go to SeaShare's mission helping the seafood industry donate to hunger-relief efforts in the US. SeaShare provided 7.5 million servings of seafood to neighbors in need in 2025. Companies interested in donating auction items contact Jessica Galli at [email protected].
• Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMSEA hosts hands-on life raft deployment safety workshops at Pacific Marine Expo. The workshops walk commercial fishermen through real raft deployment training. AMSEA instructors include Jerry Dzugan (Lead Fishing Vessel Stability Instructor, 38+ years of fishing vessel safety training) and Leann Cyr (Executive Director). Workshops take place in the National Fisherman Arena on Thursday November 19 and Friday November 20.
• Galley Stories PodcastminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGalley Stories Podcast hosts a LIVE recording at the Pacific Marine Expo Main Stage. Host Mark Caylor shares stories from the Bering Sea and Beyond with real fishermen and women. Podcast LIVE sessions are held at the Main Stage on Friday and Saturday of the event.
• Seattle Propeller ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSeattle Propeller Club organizes the Maritime Industry Economic Forecast Breakfast, held annually at Pacific Marine Expo for 13 years. The event brings together industry leaders to explore opportunities, challenges, and the economic impact of the region's maritime and fishing sectors.
• Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAFDF sponsors the Happy Hour on Day 2 (Friday, November 20) at Pacific Marine Expo. AFDF organizes the Alaska Symphony of Seafood event at the expo, promoting Alaska seafood products.
• WCT Marine & Construction Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerWCT Marine & Construction Inc. sponsors the Happy Hour on Day 3 (Saturday, November 21, 12:30pm-1:30pm), which is paired with the Coastal Challenge competition. WCT Marine is headquartered at wctmarine.com.
• We Work the WaterwaysminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWe Work the Waterways connects people to the maritime industry through immersive, hands-on experiences. At Pacific Marine Expo, they host an Industry Interaction Day on Thursday, November 19, 9:00am-1:00pm at the NF Arena, bringing select students to the show for hands-on learning, career pathway discovery, and maritime technology exploration. Their mission is to connect the next generation with careers in maritime, shipping, and logistics.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• METSTRADE: World's largest marine equipment trade show held annually in Amsterdam, covering yacht building, superyacht, and marine innovation. Comparable as a global marine B2B exhibition with overlapping exhibitor categories (electronics, propulsion, safety) and similar sponsorship/booth monetization model.
• International WorkBoat Show: Annual B2B trade show for the commercial workboat, tug, towboat, and marine services industry held in New Orleans. Most directly comparable peer as it targets the same WorkBoat West / commercial vessel operator segment served by PME; notably operated by the same parent (Diversified Communications) as a sister event.
• IBEX (International Boatbuilders' Exhibition & Conference): Annual B2B trade show for boatbuilders, designers, and marine product manufacturers held in Tampa, FL. Directly comparable for the boatbuilding, repair, deck machinery, and marine equipment exhibitor categories that anchor PME's exhibit floor.
• Seafood Expo North America: Largest North American seafood industry B2B trade show held in Boston, serving seafood buyers, suppliers, and processors. Directly comparable for the seafood processor / processor-supply exhibitor segment of PME; also a sister event under Diversified Communications.

Broad incumbents

• Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show: World's largest in-water boat show held annually in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Comparable as an established marine trade show with overlapping exhibitor categories (vessels, electronics, propulsion), though concentrated on recreational yachting rather than PME's commercial fishing focus.
• SMM Hamburg (Shipbuilding, Machinery & Marine Technology): Leading international maritime trade fair held biennially in Hamburg, covering shipbuilding, marine equipment, and offshore technology. Comparable as a global incumbent marine trade show with overlapping vessel/equipment exhibitor categories, though at significantly larger scale and international scope than PME.

Others

• National Fisherman (Sister Publication): The U.S. commercial fishing industry's flagship trade publication, presented alongside Pacific Marine Expo as a sister brand under Diversified Communications. Comparable as an enabling media channel that drives PME's attendee acquisition and content authority, rather than as a competing event.

Regional players

• Seattle Boat Show: Annual recreational boating show held in Seattle, WA. Comparable as a regional marine trade show in the same Seattle market with overlapping marine equipment and accessories exhibitors, though focused on recreational rather than commercial marine attendees.
• Nor-Fishing: Biennial fisheries and aquaculture trade show held in Trondheim, Norway. Comparable as a regional commercial fishing industry exhibition serving a similar vessel owner, gear, and processing equipment exhibitor base, though concentrated on the European market.
• China Fisheries & Seafood Expo: Asia's largest seafood and fisheries trade show held annually in Qingdao. Comparable for the seafood processor and fisheries equipment segments of PME, though serving an Asian rather than North American attendee base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NationalFishermanmag
• Facebookfacebook.com/PacificMarineExpo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pacific-marine-expo
• Instagraminstagram.com/pacificmarineexpo
• Xx.com/PacMarineExpo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pacific Marine Expo