They’ve been shucking and jiving for three years running at the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group spring fundraiser, and this year the raw bar will be hopping again from 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, at the Chilmark Community Center,

The shellfish group was born in the 1970s, largely the brainchild of director Rick Karney, as a way to promote new businesses on the water. The group is a consortium of the shellfish departments of the six Island towns. It spawns, hatches, distributes, protects, promotes and educates — it also throws really great parties. The spring fundraiser raises funds for its scallop, clam and oyster propagation program. At Saturday’s party, you get to taste where your money goes, with “buck a piece” raw bars and a chowder contest. Last year over 250 people attended the event that also includes a silent auction.

Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish entertain and chefs from all over the Island compete in the chowder contest, creating a cornucopia of riches for the consumer. Not only do shellfish taste good, they also help clean the ponds, filtering out excess nitrogen.

Tickets are $30 at the door. For more information, visit mvshellfishgroup.org.