Shellstock, the annual fund raiser for the Westport Shellfish Propagation Fund, will be earlier this year: Saturday, August 13, 2022, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Westport Fairgrounds on Pine Hill Road. 

The gate and refreshment stands will open on August 13 at 3 p.m., including a shellfish raw bar, Bootleg Barbecue, O’Neil Seafood, Somerset Creamery Ice Cream, and beer, wine and soft drinks.  Live music and dancing with the Funky White Honkies beginning at 4 p.m.

The Westport River area has one of the most vibrant shellfishing programs on the SouthCoast and Shellstock plays a huge role in making it happen.  Every week, members of Westport’s Marine Services Department and a group of volunteers are out on the water, populating the river with quahog stock.  With 100 percent of profit from Shellstock going to purchase stock for the town’s shellfish propagation program, Westport’s Marine Services Director Chris Leonard and the event planning committee hope to raise enough funds to purchase 5,000 bushels of quahog stock to spread in town waters.