Oregon fisher poets gather to share lyrical lines in Astoria, Newport

The 12th annual Fisher Poets Gathering, a coming-together of people who fish and write poetry -- and anyone who likes either -- expands this year to a second venue. As the Astoria event prepares for its February gathering, the Newport nonprofit Writers on the Edge will host FisherPoets on the Edge this weekend.

One aim of the new event, which offers films, poetry workshops and open-mike entertainment, is to connect Oregon's coastal fishermen with anyone who think a Dungeness crab comes only from the grocery store.

"Here is a whole industry where we really don't know what our neighbors are doing," said Carla Perry, Writers on the Edge founder. "Newport has been a fishing town for hundreds of years, and before that, the Indians were fishing here, and yet there's a major disconnect between that life and normal society. There's a great  need for the fishermen to be recognized and to share their life."

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