Conservation Director Alicia Mozian has announced that the Westport Shellfish Commission will begin issuing permits for recreational shellfishing on May 15. 

Permits will be required on June 1 to allow a grace period for those who may not know that a permit is now needed.  

“This marks a major achievement in what was a long haul in trying to reclaim jurisdictional control that had been taken away from the town by the decision of the Connecticut Supreme Court that control belonged to the state,” said Mozian.  

A change in legislation passed in 2007 put the Cockenoe Flats shellfish beds under local jurisdiction.  

Mozian said “It’s a great day for recreational shellfishermen restoring a beloved pastime that was once very popular.”   

After the loss of control over the beds in 1994, the proceeds derived from permit fees used to restock the beds were no longer available since no permits from the state were required. Also, the beds were not restocked by the state and the resource became depleted.  

Currently, the Shellfish Commission, in conjunction with local commercial shell fishermen, is conducting a transplant of shellfish from the Saugatuck River to the Cockenoe Flats recreational beds. This requires a temporary shutdown of the area until further notice in order to allow time for the transplanted shellfish to cleanse themselves before harvest. The commission hopes to have the transplant done and the beds reopened  in time for the Memorial Day weekend. 

In preparation for the restart of the recreational program, the Shellfish Commission has revised its regulations, which became effective on May 6. Permits will be valid until Dec. 31 of each calendar year. All residents of the State of Connecticut and non-residents will be eligible to purchase a recreational shellfish permit.  

Permit applications may be downloaded for mail-in registration. A recreational shellfish permittee may take no more than one-half bushel per day. 

Westport has limited parking available. The Canal Road parking area can only accommodate six to eight cars. There is no roadside parking allowed, and will be policed. The remainder of Saugatuck Shores is private property.  There is no boat, kayak or canoe launching from the Canal Road parking area. 

The best access to the recreational shellfish beds is by boat. There is a state boat launch on the Saugatuck River located at Underhill Parkway off Compo Road South.

Find out how to get a shellfish permit