The Chicago Marine Aquarium Society (CMAS) has postponed its first World Reef Conference until 2010 to allow for greater participation in the event. The conference will now be held October 2010 in conjunction with H.H. Backer Associate’s 44th Annual Pet Industry Christmas Trade Show in Rosemont, Ill.
The event was scheduled to be held during this year’s Backer Christmas show on Oct. 3 and 4. It was to include a frag fest with smaller tabletop displays, aquatic reef-related seminars and workshops, a frag swap, and tour of the Shedd Aquarium in downtown Chicago.
However, in recent weeks, numerous potential exhibitors said they would like to participate but could not due to current budget restraints, CMAS reported. Boyd Corbett, World Reef Conference co-chair, said postponing the event until next year is “a fiscally responsible move that will insure maximum participation at World Reef Conference 2010.”
CMAS is working to reschedule conference speakers for the new show date. The organization expects to reimburse registration fees within the next week.