NEWPORT, Ore. – Recreational and commercial bay crabbers are invited to share their comments on Oregon's Dungeness Crab Fishery Management Plan and commercial bay crab logbook at virtual public meetings beginning on Aug. 24.

The online public meetings will be held via Zoom at: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/16075743485?pwd=dDRxQ3VDTXQ5YXRsRWMrS09EUEg3dz09

Or by phone: 1-669-254-5252, Meeting ID: 160 7574 3485, Passcode: 867523

The first of three meetings begin on Aug. 24, 10 to 11 a.m.

The second and third meetings will be held on Aug. 25, 3 to 4 p.m., and Aug. 26 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The meetings will focus on the specific goals and objectives for the management of the sport and commercial bay crab fisheries. ODFW will also present commercial bay crab logbook requirements for the 2021 season and proposed for permanent rule to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission (OFWC).

Dungeness crab are an important ecological, economic, and cultural resource for Oregon. The purpose of the Management Plan is to provide transparency and facilitate good governance. This plan provides a comprehensive assessment of the current knowledge on Dungeness crab and a description of the management strategy for the harvest of the resource.

The Management Plan will be presented to the OFWC on October 15.

An additional open comment period will be made available to the public for one month via a dedicated website starting in September.

Image of Dungeness crab harvested in Oregon; photo by Greg Krutzikowsky, ODFW: https://www.dfw.state.or.us/news/images/2021/081221_crab_odfw.jpg