The research centre was established in order to utilize Molluscan resources on sustainable base. But as coastal ecosystems got deteriorated duet establishment of industries on the southern periphery of Gulf of Kutch, habitat destruction due to bottom trawling, sand lifting from islands situated in the Gulf and other manmade activities including large fishing fleet, industry-mate fishing resulting
into overexploitation of important Molluscan fishery. Department of fisheries , Gov. Of Gujarat has established Fisheries Research Station at Sikka to carry out resource survey of economically important mollusks, its habitat and to develop technology for species preservation, production and propagation. The establishment of the present station is also based on the study of a marine zoologist Dr. James Hornel (1905-1917), who studied the marine zoology of Okhamandal in particular and suggested to develop technology for pearl production, preservation and rational exploitation of marine resources for uplifting the living standards of the fishermen and coastal communities. The research centre was transferred to Gujarat Agricultural University in the year 1992 and finally merged into JAU w.e.f. May, 2004. Since then this research station is engaged with the Mandate, standardization of technology in pearl production; resource survey of Edible oysters, Pearl oysters and Mussels. And finally to preserve the species of economic importance through hatchery spat production, rearing them and recruit them into natural Pearl oyster habitat. The centre is located 28 km west of Jamnagar and is connected with road.
