WESTPORT — “Cocktails & Clams,” the annual fundraiser hosted by Harbor Watch, a water-quality research agency based at Earthplace, is planned this year May 31.

All proceeds from the event benefit Harbor Watch programs that “protect the Long Island Sound estuary and the Connecticut waters that feed it,” which organizers say are currently under threat because of federal funding cutbacks.

“Cocktails & Clams” will take place at 5 p.m. Saturday, May 31, at Copps Island Oysters on Norwalk Harbor. To purchase tickets in advance online, click here.

Featured fare at the gathering will include a raw bar with fresh oysters and clams, canapés and drinks. There also will be live music.

Harbor Watch, founded in 1986, “has a long-standing commitment to cultivating the next generation of environmental leaders through our distinctive educational programs, and the need for community support has never been greater,” Nikki Spiller, the Harbor Watch director, said in a release announcing the event.

Students participating in Harbor Watch programs are trained using rivers and harbors as their classroom, with an opportunity to work in a state-certified laboratory, according to Spiller.

“The education program offerings aim to foster a connection with the environment and build skill sets that will set them apart from their peers when choosing a major or applying for jobs in the sciences,” she added.