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Ray, shagreen (Leucoraja fullonica)

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Common name - Ray, shagreen
Scientific name - Leucoraja fullonica
Rating
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Caught at sea All applicable methods
Capture Area North East Atlantic  FAO 27
Stock Area Celtic Sea and West of Scotland
Stock Detail VI, VIIa-c,e-j
Summary
The stock status of shagreen rays is largely uncertain both around the UK and in the Bay of Biscay and Iberian waters. Avoid eating. Skates and rays are inherently vulnerable to overfishing due to slow growth rates, late maturation and low fecundity. In addition, little is known about the stock status of many individual species because historically they have been landed under the generic skates and rays category. Only fisheries for the smaller, faster growing species such as spotted and cuckoo fished in the North Sea where abundance is estimated to be increasing can be considered as potentially sustainable at present. Avoid eating these species below the size at which they mature: spotted ray males mature at a length of about 54cm and females at about 57cm (both between 3 to 8 years old); cuckoo ray males and females mature at between 54 to 59cm in length when approximately 4 years old.
Biology
Shagreen rays belong to the Rajidae family which includes skates and rays. The shagreen ray is a medium sized species growing to a maximum length of 120cm. Males and females mature from 56 to 85cm in length. Age at maturity and maximum age is unknown.
Stock Information
The stock status of shagreen ray in this area is unknown because of the lack of species specific landing data and its low appearance in scientific surveys. Reference points are not defined and no analytical assessment carried out. ICES recommends a reduction in catches of at least 20% in 2013. The species would also benefit from a reduction in overall demersal fishing effort and additional measures to regulate exploitation of the stock such as seasonal and/or area closures.
Capture Information
Shagreen ray is caught in low numbers in mixed fisheries on the continental slope. Skates and rays form an important component of mixed demersal fisheries, taken as bycatch in beam and otter trawls, in seine fisheries and also in targeted fisheries using lines and set nets. This species is routinely landed under a general category of 'skate and rays'. However, recently the Marine Fisheries Agency (MFA) has issued a new instruction and guidance for fishermen and merchants to record all individual species of skates and rays around England and Wales, to help build an accurate picture of stocks of skates and rays here. Also targeted by sea anglers. No Minimum Landing Size (MLS) is specified for skates and rays in EU waters outside 6 miles. MLS specified in some coastal waters of England and Wales, e.g. Kent and Essex Sea Fisheries District, 40cm (wing to wing), South Wales 45cm, Cumbria SFC 45cm. Under current EU legislation, where a directed fishery for skates takes place, a mesh size in the cod-end of no less than 28cm is required and not less than 22cm in the rest of the trawl. In 2007, Fisheries Science Partnership projects (fishermen and scientists working together) were conducted to investigate discard survival rates in trawl fisheries, to find out the survival rate for skates and rays that would be discarded with the introduction of a maximum landing length. The projects also aimed to develop species identification onboard and contribute to improved data collection. The Skate and Ray Producers Association has recently been working to improve the lack of species specific data by reporting their catches by species, into a central database. This follows previous collaborative work with the Shark Trust and the Seafish Industry Authority, to produce an identification guide to help distinguish different species. There is a potential for damage to the seabed by trawling. Trawling is also associated with discarding of unwanted fish, i.e. undersized and/or non-quota and/or over-quota species.
References
ICES 2012 Book 5
Alternatives
(Based on method of production, fish type, and consumer rating: only fish rated 3 and below are included.)
No alternatives found.
Read what the consumer pages of the Good Fish Guide say about this species.