Booth space for ComFish 2009 has sold out, said Debora King of the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce. The event, scheduled for April 23-25, will be in the new Kodiak Harbor Convention Center.

About 30 booths are scheduled — a number less than previous years, King said. The effect will be a smaller, more focused trade show, she said.

“There will be more vendors bringing actual commercial fishing equipment and gear. I’m thrilled with that,” King said, adding that her focus was “to attract as many quality vendors as I could. I’m very, very pleased with the response.”

Vendors are coming from as far as New Zealand; Brooklyn, N.Y.; and Fort Worth, Texas. As with past years, many are also attending from Seattle.

The Brooklyn company, S&W Wilson Enterprises, sells refrigeration equipment and the Fort Worth-based company is Helm-Chair by Llebroc.

King said ComFish is the first event to be held in the new convention center.

“A new location, I think, is going to attract curiosity from the locals,” she said.

She said the chamber is waiting to see “how the new venue goes. It’s a steep learning curve for us.”

Gov. Sarah Palin and husband Todd Palin are invited to attend the gala dinner on April 23, titled “Look How Far We’ve Come,” which celebrates Alaska’s 50 years of statehood and the state’s seafood industry. As of Wednesday afternoon, Palin’s office said her attendance at the dinner is still pending.

King said ComFish also is expecting in attendance (but not yet confirmed) a representative from Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s office.

Mirror writer can be reached via e-mail at bzint@kodiakdailymirror.com.