The Common Skate: An Assessment for Sustainable Management of a Population on the Brink of Extinction

Abstract

Word fisheries have been historically plagued by unsustainable fishing practices that result in environmental degradation and population decline due to overexploitation of marine species (Griffin, 2016). Elasmobranch species in particular are among those most severely threatened by the activity of commercial fisheries (Griffin, 2016). Elasmobranchs, which include sharks, skates, and rays, are highly susceptible to by-catch as they get unintentionally caught during efforts to target more commercially valuable fish (Griffin, 2016). Targeted efforts toward skate species are also on the rise in recent years as skates become increasingly valued for their edible wings. With the survivability of such marine species quickly declining, the need for effective management to regulate unsustainable practices in commercial fishing becomes abundantly clear. In this senior thesis we focus in on a particularly threatened elasmobranch species, the common skate. This species is highly susceptible to the threats of commercial exploitation due to its life history characteristics and as a result, has experienced severe declines over the last 40 years, particularly the Northeast Atlantic population of common skate (Dulvy et al., 2006). There is significant evidence for the importance of this skate’s ecological function within its marine ecosystem and thus, great motivation for protecting the species from further decline and potential extinction (Link, 2007). This senior thesis will further explore the case study of the Northeast Atlantic population of common skate. After assessing the current status of the common skate based on available scientific literature, the thesis will evaluate the efficacy of the most commonly used management tools for bringing stability to commercial fisheries. Finally, through a synthesis of the first two sections of the thesis, there will be an argument made for the implementation of a management plan to protect and stabilize populations of the common skate in the Northeast Atlantic.