Specialty Fish

Skate / Market Overview

Skate (Raja radiata)

The winter skate is found in the western Atlantic Ocean, from Newfoundland, Canada, to North Carolina.

The Northeast (NE) Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan (FMP) was implemented in September 2003. Since that time, open access federal permits have been required for all vessels and dealers that fish for or purchase skates. Six other species are managed by the FMP: barndoor, thorny, smooth, clearnose, little, and rosette.

Skates represent a year-round fishery on the Eastern seaboard of the U.S. and are caught by local day-boat draggers and gillnet vessels. Currently, they are not considered over-fished.

For more up-to-date industry information, visit http://www.nefmc.org/skates

Facts

Winter skates are light brown with roundish dark spots on their dorsal side. The species has two rows of spines on either side of the midline on the tail, and the snout is slightly rounded. Adults can grow to about 40 inches in total length and can weight up to 15 pounds.

Preferring sand and gravel bottoms, winter skates feed on fish, crustaceans, and sometimes dollarfish, cunner, and squid.