SENA

Rhode Island Seafood Marketing Collaborative (SMC) and RI Seafood will be highlighting the businesses that make up the Ocean State’s seafood scene at the Seafood Expo North America (SENA), in March of 2026. 

RI Seafood is solicitating applications from RI Seafood members including local seafood markets, wholesalers, processors, dealers, and direct sellers to share a booth at SENA 2026 in Boston. The 2025 expo had exhibitors from more than 50 countries and brought more than 20,000 seafood professionals together. Rhode Island businesses that attended in 2025 had over 97 connections with other seafood buyers and sellers. 

SENA 2026 will take place from Sunday, March 15 through Tuesday, March 17 at the Boston Convention Center. 

Application deadline is December 31, 2025.

While we recognize that attendance and having a booth at SENA can be cost prohibitive, we have secured sufficient funding to provide branded, professional booth space for businesses to attend, table, and conduct meetings. We are requesting that interested businesses match a small portion of this investment to attend. If you are a RI Seafood business and would like to join us, look at the packages available on the flyer below to decide what level would best accommodate your needs, review the business expectations for attending SENA at the RI Seafood booth, and fill out the interest form linked below!

Available Packages

Requirements for Attending SENA at the RI Seafood Booth

Please read thoroughly as expectations for businesses have changed since our previous year of attending the show.

GENERAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

• All partners at the booth must be RI Seafood members and are a dealer, wholesaler, processor, market, or direct seller registered to do business in Rhode Island and are able to sell locally caught and landed seafood, consistent with the expectations of being a RI Seafood member.

• Business partners acknowledge that they are sharing a branded space with RI Seafood and other RI seafood businesses and are not granted exclusive use of the entire booth. 

• Partners will agree to share the gained business data with RI Seafood. We will use this data to provide further justification for this program. 

• Partners will agree to fill out a post-SENA survey regarding the show and their participation in this program.

• Partners will be expected to attend pre-planning meetings prior to SENA

• Partners will be expected to provide a letter of support in future years as requested

• Attendance at the show is mandatory if selected. Tardiness and failure to show may prevent future selection for subsidized attendance.

• The booth provided at SENA is purchased with state dollars and shall be treated as state property. All alcohol is prohibited in or on booth space, or in the aisle near any of the tables. We recognize that the show has a long history of having a beer at the end of the day, however, under no circumstances may alcohol be associated with the State of Rhode Island at the show. If you need to have a cocktail with a client, please ensure that it is done outside the vicinity of the booth. Failure to comply may prevent future subsidized attendance. 

ADVERTISING

• All partners are expected to co-advertise attendance at SENA on social media and marketing platforms leading up to and at the show.
• RI Seafood will help provided branded materials and social media posts for each business based on the established levels as noted in the flyer. 

INDEMNIFICATION

• All partners agree that it shall, at all times, release from all liability, defend, protect and save, hold harmless and indemnify the State of Rhode Island, RI Seafood and the Department of Environmental Management and their respective departments, employees, agents, and servants against and from any accident, incident or occurrence connected to SENA including bodily injury and death, property damage or personal advertising injury, loss, costs, damage or expenses including attorney’s fees.

PAYMENT

• To address the high costs of attending, RI Seafood have secured sufficient funding to provide branded, professional booth space for businesses to attend, table, and conduct meetings. Because the state investment is considerable, however, RI Seafood is requiring some small level of business commitment to advertise at the RI Seafood booth.  We are requesting that interested businesses match a small portion of this investment to attend and take advantage of this affordable opportunity. 

• RI Seafood will invoice the business no later than January 31, 2026 and payment at the subsidized level assigned shall be made and processed prior to March 1, 2026. 

• Payments can be made to the General Treasurer of Rhode Island. In the memo, please indicate that is for RI Seafood and SENA attendance.  Please send to the following address:

                  Department of Environmental Management

                  Attn: Molly Moran-Ogren

                  235 Promenade St., 4^th Floor

                  Providence, RI 02908

AVAILABLE PACKAGES

Big Fish Package (returning and new)

• Businesses interested in the “Big Fish Package” are expected to have staff present and be in attendance of the show all three (3) days.  Absence and tardiness from the show will prevent future partnership at SENA. 

• Returning businesses are subject to a higher cost for exhibiting as the expectation was that the business was able to expand their business from prior attendance at the RI Seafood booth and can absorb these costs more than a first time attending business.

• You must show up on time or prior to the start of the show Sunday through Tuesday. Failure to comply will be reflective in future sponsorships. 

• Businesses are expected to provide their own staff and materials for the table.

• No raw seafood will be allowed on the tables.

• Pre-made and packaged materials that do not need refrigeration will be allowed.

• Businesses may request and coordinate with RI Seafood for photo galleries of each business’s boats, facilities, operations, etc. prior to the show. Each gallery will be approximately 50 or more photos and can be used for advertising, web display, and other assets. 

• RI Seafood will provide individual branded materials for each business to utilize at the show.  

• Travel and lodging for the show is not included and are the responsibility of the businesses.

Smooth Sailing Package

• Businesses interested in the “Smooth Sailing” package will work with RI Seafood to secure meeting space times and dates at the booth. 

• Businesses agree that the dedicated meeting space will be shared among other businesses and collaboration for times and space will be required. 

• RI Seafood agrees to manage the timing of meetings and ensure a smooth transition and use of the space. 

• Businesses may request and coordinate with RI Seafood photo galleries of each business’s boats, facilities, operations, etc. prior to the show. Each gallery will be approximately 30 or more photos and can be used for advertising, web display, and other assets 

• RI Seafood will provide individual branded materials for each business to utilize at the show. 

For any additional questions, please contact Molly Moran-Ogren at Molly.Ogren@dem.ri.gov. 

Interest Form

Filling out the interest form does not guarantee your attendance at the RI Seafood booth in 2026. RI Seafood will be in touch regarding your interest form to discuss what package best fits your business needs. All businesses should read through the SENA Business Expectations, provided above, before completing the interest form. 

The deadline to apply is December 31, 2025.

FAQs