Endangered Species Status Review Report for Thorny Skate (Amblyraja radiata)
The 2017 status review report conducted on a petition to list either the United States or North…
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Little skate in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Andy Martinez, NOAA
The Northeast skate complex fishery consists of seven species:
The primary target species in the skate fishery are winter and little skates. Winter skates are harvested for their wings for human consumption, and little skates are harvested as bait for lobster and other fisheries.
The Northeast skate complex fishery in the Greater Atlantic Region includes seven skate species and operates from Maine to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina; from inshore to offshore waters on the edge of the continental shelf. Skate is mostly harvested incidentally in trawl and gillnet fisheries targeting groundfish, monkfish, and sometimes scallops. Implementing regulations are found at 50 CFR part 648 subpart O.
The skate complex is distributed form near the tide line to depths exceeding 700 meters. Most of the bait fishery occurs in New England waters and is largely comprised of little skate. The directed bait fishery by Rhode Island vessels occurs primarily in federal waters from the Rhode Island/Connecticut/New York state waters boundary east to the waters south of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket out to approximately 69° W.
Other ports that participate in the bait fishery to some extent include ports in southern Massachusetts, Long Island, and Connecticut. Vessels landing for the wing market either target skates on Georges Bank, the Great South Channel, or west of the Nantucket Lightship area in Southern New England.
Vessels landing for the wing market also target skates in the western Gulf of Maine, primarily using trawl gear. Vessels using gillnets often fish east of Cape Cod.
There are currently no recreational possession restrictions for skates caught in federal waters. Recreational anglers must still comply with minimum fish size regulations for all recreational fisheries in the region.
Recreational anglers will need to get a general recreational fishing license either through your state or through NOAA Fisheries to fish recreationally for marine species. Visit our permit office or recreational fishing pages for more information.
Possession or landing of thorny skates is prohibited, and possession or landing of smooth skates from the Gulf of Maine Regulated Mesh Area is also prohibited. Limited retention of barndoor skates is now allowed in the directed skate wing fishery on a provisional basis. More information about barndoor allowances can be found on our provisions page.
There is a skate identification guide available to help you identify each potential species of skate in the Northeast Skate Complex.
Trip Type | Season | Trip Limit (lb) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Skate Wings | Whole Skates | Barndoor Wings* | Whole Barndoor Skates* | ||
Northeast (NE) Multispecies A, Scallop, or Monkfish Day-at-Sea (DAS) | 1: May 1 - Aug 31 | 3,000 | 6,810 | 750 | 1,703 |
2: Sept 1 - Apr 30 | 5,000 | 11,350 | 1,250 | 2,838 | |
NE Multispecies B DAS | All Year: May 1 - Apr 30 | 220 | 500 | 0 | 0 |
Non-DAS | All Year: May 1 - Apr 30 | 500 | 1,135 | 0 | 0 |
*For more information about the proportional barndoor skate limits, see our information page about the barndoor skate provisions.
There are no size limits under the skate wing fishery.
Trip Type | Season | Trip Limit (lb) | |
---|---|---|---|
Skate Wings | Whole Skates | ||
Skate Bait LOA | All Year: May 1 - Apr 30 | 0 | 25,000 |
*For more information about the Skate Bait Fishery and Letter of Authorization Program, please see our summary page.
The skate bait fishery has a maximum size of 23 inches.
Vessels may possess and land skate wings, wings with the associated carcasses possessed separately, and/or whole skates. The weight of skate carcasses may not exceed 1.27 times the weight of skate wings, and vessels may not possess skate carcasses without retaining the associated wings. Any combination of landed skate products must adhere to the trip limits described above. The conversion factor from wing to whole weight is 2.27
Overfishing Limit (OFL) | Undefined |
---|---|
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) | 32,715 mt |
Annual Catch Limit (ACL) | 32,715 mt |
Annual Catch Target (ACT) | 29,444 mt |
Total Allowable Landings (TAL) | 17,864 mt |
Wing TAL (66.5%) | 11,879 mt |
Bait TAL (33.5%) | 5,984 mt |
Exempted fisheries allow vessels to fish for specific species without being subject to certain Northeast multispecies regulations, including days-at-sea, provided the bycatch of regulated species is minimal. To be approved and implemented, exemption programs must have demonstrated that incidental catch of Northeast multispecies is less than five percent of the total catch, by weight, and that the exemption will not jeopardize fishing mortality objectives.
A vessel fishing in a NE multispecies DAS exemption program that permits skate retention may possess and land skate or skate parts equal to 10 percent, by weight, of all other species on board, or 500 lb of skate wings (1,135 lb whole weight), whichever is less. This program applies in to the skate fishery in the following exemption areas:
A vessel issued a valid High Seas Fishing Compliance Permit and that complies with the associated requirements, is exempt from skate permit and possession limit restrictions while transiting the EEZ with skates on board the vessel, or landing skates in U.S. ports that were caught while fishing in the NAFO Regulatory Area. These vessels may possess, retain, and land barndoor skate; however, they may not possess, retain, or land other prohibited skate species such as thorny skate. A letter of authorization is required for participation in the NAFO Exemption Program, and other requirements and restrictions may apply. For more information, visit the NAFO website.
A holder of a federal skate permit may request and receive an exemption from the possession limits of the skate wing fishery to land whole skates for use as bait. A vessel with a valid Skate Bait Letter of Authorization (LOA) may possess and land up to 25,000 lb or 12,000 lb of whole skates (depending on the season). The exemption and entry into the bait fishery is granted through this LOA, which can be obtained from the Permit Office at (978)-282-8438. For more information on the Skate Bait Fishery and LOA Program, please visit our summary page.
VTRs must be submitted with a record of all fishing activity for each month. The reports must be submitted to NOAA fisheries or postmarked within 15 days after the end of the reporting month. Copies of VTRs must be retained on board the vessel for 1 year after the date of the last entry on the log and otherwise retained for 3 years after the date of the last entry on the log. Reports can also be submitted electronically through our online reporting page. Skates must be identified according to the following categories: Winter skate; little skate; little/winter skate; barndoor skate; smooth skate; thorny skate; clearnose skate; or rosette skate. Vessels may no longer report landings as 'unclassified' skate. All discards of skates must be reported according to two size classes: Large skates (greater than or equal to 23 inches total length) and small skates (less than 23 inches total length). Visit the skate identification guide for help identifying the different skate species.
The skate fishery does not specifically require VMS. However, vessels must abide by Northeast multispecies, scallop, or monkfish regulations if fishing on a day-at-sea (DAS) for one of those fisheries. Unless fishing on a Northeast multispecies sector trip, a vessel holding a federal fishing permit that requires an operating VMS must declare ‘out of fishery’ (DOF) through their VMS before starting a trip to fish for, possess, or land skates in an exempted area or fishery not requiring a DAS.
The skate fishery does not have any Interactive Voice Response (IVR) or specific observer requirements. However, vessels must abide by Northeast multispecies, scallop, or monkfish regulations if fishing on a DAS for one of those fisheries. Additionally, all federally permitted vessels are obligated to carry an observer if randomly selected by the National Observer Program.
There are no specific gear requirements for the skate fishery. However, all vessels fishing for skates must follow Northeast (NE) multispecies, monkfish, or scallop regulations when fishing under a Day-at-Sea (DAS) for one of those fisheries.
Please refer to the regulations of those fisheries for more information.
The Northeast skate complex fishery is managed by the New England Fishery Management Council, with NOAA Fisheries serving as the implementing body for rules and regulations within the fishery.
The fishing year runs from May 1 through April 30, with NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region jurisdiction covering from Maine to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina (35° 15.3’ N latitude). The fishery is managed managed using separate possession limits and coastwide quotas for both the wing and bait fisheries, with different seasonal quota periods for each. The skate fishery is also indirectly managed by limiting fishing effort through days-at-sea (DAS) fisheries (Northeast multispecies, monkfish, and scallops).
While there are no specified management areas for the fishery, vessels fishing for skates in federal waters must also comply with Northeast multispecies, monkfish, or scallop regulations when fishing under a DAS for one of those fisheries. These include seasonal and year-round closures, Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) closures, and transiting/gear storage requirements. Please refer to the regulations of those fisheries for more information.
There are several exempted fishing areas defined for the skate fishery where DAS are not required, which you can learn more about on the Exempted Fishing tab on this page.
Control Date for the Skate Wing Fishery: March 31, 2014
Control Date for the Skate Bait Fishery: July 30, 2009
The Northeast Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan (FMP) requires the annual specification of catch and harvest limits for up to two years at a time. If specifications are not in place at the start of the fishing year, the existing specifications roll over until new regulations are finalized.
Overfishing Limit (OFL) | Undefined |
---|---|
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) | 32,715 mt |
Annual Catch Limit (ACL) | 32,715 mt |
Annual Catch Target (ACT) | 29,444 mt |
Total Allowable Landings (TAL) | 17,864 mt |
Wing TAL (66.5%) | 11,879 mt |
Bait TAL (33.5%) | 5,984 mt |
Fishery | Season | TAL (mt) |
---|---|---|
Wing | 1: May 1 - Aug 31 | 6,771 |
2: Sept 1 - Apr 30 | 5,108 | |
Bait | 1: May 1 - Jul 31 | 1,843 |
2: Aug 1 - Oct 31 | 2,220 | |
3: Nov 1 - Apr 30 | 1,921 |
If 85% of the skate wing season 1 quota (57 percent of the annual skate wing TAL) is projected to be landed between May 1 and August 17, the skate wing possession limit will be reduced to the incidental limit of 500 lb of skate wings (1,135 lb whole weight) for all vessels for the remainder of Season 1.
If 85% of the annual skate wing TAL is projected to be landed any time between August 18 and April 30, the Regional Administrator may reduce the possession limit to the incidental limit of 500 lb of skate wings (1,135 lb whole weight) prevent overfishing from occurring, provided that doing so would not prevent the skate wing TAL from being attained.
When 90% of the skate bait seasonal quota is landed in either Season 1 or 2, or when 80% of the annual skate bait TAL is landed, the skate bait possession limit will be reduced to the incidental limit of 8,000 lb. If 100% of the skate bait TAL is landed, the skate bait fishery will be closed, and active LOAs will be voided.
If the skate wing fishery TAL or skate bait fishery TAL is determined to have been exceeded by more than 5% in any given year based upon, but not limited to, available landings information, the Regional Administrator shall reduce the inseason possession limit trigger for that fishery in the next fishing year by 1% for each 1% of the TAL overage.
If the ACL is determined to have been exceeded in any given year, based upon, but not limited to, available landings and discard information, the percent buffer between ACL and ACT, initially specified at 10%, shall be increased by 1% for each 1% ACL overage in the second fishing year following the fishing year in which the ACL overage occurred, through either the specifications or framework adjustment process.
The most recent full stock assessments for the Northeast skate complex was in 2008. The next assessment is scheduled for 2019.
Note for Overfishing Definition: The skate stocks below are considered to be subject to overfishing when the 3-year moving average of the (spring/autumn) survey mean weight per tow declines __% (see table) or more, or when the (spring/autumn) survey mean weight per tow declines for 3 consecutive years.
Stock | Winter Skate |
---|---|
Biomass (B) (2016) | 5.35 kg/tow |
BMSY Proxy | 5.66 kg/tow |
BThreshold | 2.83 kg/tow |
Overfished Definition | When the 3-year moving average of the autumn survey mean weight per tow is less than one-half of the 75th percentile of the mean weight per tow observed in the autumn trawl survey from the selected reference time series. |
Overfished? | No |
Fishing Mortality Rate (F) | Undefined |
Overfishing Definition | Autumn, 20% |
Overfishing? | No |
Current Rebuilding Program? | None, N/A |
Next Stock Assessment | Scheduled for 2019 |
Stock | Little Skate |
---|---|
Biomass (B) (2016) | 5.64 kg/tow |
BMSY Proxy | 6.15 kg/tow |
BThreshold | 3.07 kg/tow |
Overfished Definition | When the 3-year moving average of the spring survey mean weight per tow is less than one-half of the 75thpercentile of the mean weight per tow observed in the spring trawl survey from the selected reference time series. |
Overfished? | No |
Fishing Mortality Rate (F) | Undefined |
Overfishing Definition | Spring, 20% |
Overfishing? | No |
Current Rebuilding Program? | None, N/A |
Next Stock Assessment | Scheduled for 2019 |
Stock | Barndoor Skate |
---|---|
Biomass (B) (2016) | 1.59 kg/tow |
BMSY Proxy | 1.57 kg/tow |
BThreshold | 0.78 kg/tow |
Overfished Definition | When the 3-year moving average of the autumn survey mean weight per tow is less than one-half of the mean weight per tow observed in the autumn trawl survey from 1963-1966 (currently 0.81 kg/tow). |
Overfished? | No |
Fishing Mortality Rate (F) | Undefined |
Overfishing Definition | Autumn, 30% |
Overfishing? | No |
Current Rebuilding Program? | Declared rebuilt in 2016 |
Next Stock Assessment | Scheduled for 2019 |
Stock | Clearnose Skate |
---|---|
Biomass (B) (2016) | 0.73 kg/tow |
BMSY Proxy | 0.66 kg/tow |
BThreshold | 0.33 kg/tow |
Overfished Definition | When the 3-year moving average of the autumn survey mean weight per tow is less than one-half of the 75th percentile of the mean weight per tow observed in the autumn trawl survey from the selected reference time series. |
Overfished? | No |
Fishing Mortality Rate (F) | Undefined |
Overfishing Definition | Autumn, 40% |
Overfishing? | No |
Current Rebuilding Program? | None, N/A |
Next Stock Assessment | Scheduled for 2019 |
Stock | Rosette Skate |
---|---|
Biomass (B) (2016) | 0.051 kg/tow |
BMSY Proxy | 0.048 kg/tow |
BThreshold | 0.024 kg/tow |
Overfished Definition | When the 3-year moving average of the autumn survey mean weight per tow is less than one-half of the 75th percentile of the mean weight per tow observed in the autumn trawl survey from the selected reference time series. |
Overfished? | No |
Fishing Mortality Rate (F) | Undefined |
Overfishing Definition | Autumn, 60% |
Overfishing? | No |
Current Rebuilding Program? | None, N/A |
Next Stock Assessment | Scheduled for 2019 |
Stock | Thorny Skate |
---|---|
Biomass (B) (2016) | 0.17 kg/tow |
BMSY Proxy | 4.13 kg/tow |
BThreshold | 2.06 kg/tow |
Overfished Definition | When the 3-year moving average of the autumn survey mean weight per tow is less than one-half of the 75th percentile of the mean weight per tow observed in the autumn trawl survey from the selected reference time series. |
Overfished? | Yes |
Fishing Mortality Rate (F) | Undefined |
Overfishing Definition | Autumn, 20% |
Overfishing? | No |
Current Rebuilding Program? | Yes, year 14 of 25-year plan |
Next Stock Assessment | Scheduled for 2019 |
Stock | Smooth Skate |
---|---|
Biomass (B) (2016) | 0.21 kg/tow |
BMSY Proxy | 0.27 kg/tow |
BThreshold | 0.134 kg/tow |
Overfished Definition | When the 3-year moving average of the autumn survey mean weight per tow is less than one-half of the 75th percentile of the mean weight per tow observed in the autumn trawl survey from the selected reference time series. |
Overfished? | No |
Fishing Mortality Rate (F) | Undefined |
Overfishing Definition | Autumn, 30% |
Overfishing? | No |
Current Rebuilding Program? | Yes, year 7 of 10-year plan |
Next Stock Assessment | Scheduled for 2019 |
The 2017 status review report conducted on a petition to list either the United States or North…