Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission release - The win in Springfield was important, but it was not the end of the fight for our fishery – it was the beginning of the next round.  ODFW is now holding a series of public meetings along the Oregon coast to discuss the commercial Dungeness crab fishery, including marine life entanglement, new conservation plan elements, electronic logbooks, vessel monitoring, and experimental gear permits. These meetings will help shape what the Commission sees and hears before key decisions at the August 14 Commission meeting.  Commercial fishermen, industry reps, and anyone who depends on this fishery are specifically being invited to attend, either in person on the coast or via the virtual option. That invitation is only meaningful if we actually show up.  Right now, a lot of people in the fleet and in our communities are exhausted and think, “We already went to Springfield. We won. They heard us. We’re done.” That is exactly what some NGOs and other interests are counting on – that we will treat one good outcome as the end of the story and leave the next meetings half empty or quiet.  Here is the reality:  • Every time ODFW or the Fish and Wildlife Commission meets about Oregon Dungeness, the record either shows fishermen and coastal communities present and speaking, or it shows us absent.  • When we are not in the room – in person or virtually – others get to define what “the fishing community” wants, what “the industry” can live with, and what “risk reduction” should look like.  • Once rules are adopted, they change lives: when you fish, how you fish, what you invest in, and what your crew and family can count on.  So, this is an ask, not just an information share:  • If you are a permit holder, crew member, processor, buyer, port staff, or coastal resident who depends on this fishery, pick at least one of these meetings and commit to showing up.  • If you can’t be there in person, use the virtual option – it counts.  • Bring a neighbor, a crew member, or a family member who has been affected by delays, closures, or gear changes. Real people and real stories matter far more than policy buzzwords.  We don’t need every single person at every single meeting. But we do need the room – physical and virtual – to reflect the fact that this fishery supports real families, real coastal towns, and real working businesses from Astoria to Brookings.  If we are not there, others will speak for us.  Next meeting, Thursday, May 7, North Bend Public Library, 1 to 4 p.m.; then, May 12, Newport; Oregon Coast Community College, 1 to 4 p.m.; final public meeting, May 14, Astoria, Astoria Public Library, 1 to 4 p.m.  Concerns:  Marine Life Entanglements; Five-year risk reduction measures evaluation; Vessel Monitoring & Electronic logooks; Experimental fishing gear permits.  More information:  https://tinyurl.com/odfwdungenesspublicmeetings.