Northeast Fisheries Science Center Reference Document 16-08

Update of Thorny Skate (Amblyraja radiata) 

Commercial and Survey Data

by Katherine Sosebee, Alicia Miller, Loretta O’Brien, 

Dave McElroy, Sally Sherman

doi:10.7289/V5/RD-NEFSC-16-08
Northeast Fisheries Science Center Reference Document 16-08

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service

Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Woods Hole, Massachusetts

November 2016

Update of Thorny Skate (Amblyraja radiata) 

Commercial and Survey Data

by Katherine Sosebee1, Alicia Miller1, Loretta O’Brien1, 

Dave McElroy1

, Sally Sherman2

1

NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service

Northeast Fisheries Science Center

166 Water Street

Woods Hole, MA 02543

2

Department of Maine Marine Resources 

PO Box 8, West Boothbay Harbor, ME 04575

doi:10.7289/V5/RD-NEFSC-16-08
Northeast Fisheries Science Center Reference Documents

This series is a secondary scientific series designed to assure the long-term documentation and 

to enable the timely transmission of research results by Center and/or non-Center researchers, 

where such results bear upon the research mission of the Center (see the outside back cover for 

the mission statement). These documents receive internal scientific review, and most receive 

copy editing. The National Marine Fisheries Service does not endorse any proprietary material, 

process, or product mentioned in these documents.

All documents issued in this series since April 2001, and several documents issued prior to 

that date, have been copublished in both paper and electronic versions. To access the electronic 

version of a document in this series, go to http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/nefsc/publications/. The 

electronic version is available in PDF format to permit printing of a paper copy directly from 

the Internet. If you do not have Internet access, or if a desired document is one of the pre-April 

2001 documents available only in the paper version, you can obtain a paper copy by contacting 

the senior Center author of the desired document. Refer to the title page of the document for 

the senior Center author’s name and mailing address. If there is no Center author, or if there is 

corporate (i.e., non-individualized) authorship, then contact the Center’s Woods Hole Laboratory Library (166 Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026).

Information Quality Act Compliance: In accordance with section 515 of Public Law 106-

554, the Northeast Fisheries Science Center completed both technical and policy reviews for 

this report. These predissemination reviews are on file at the NEFSC Editorial Office.

This document may be cited as:

Sosebee K, Miller A, O’Brien L, McElroy D, Sherman S. 2016. Update of Thorny Skate 

(Amblyraja radiata) Commercial and Survey Data. US Dept Commer, Northeast Fish 

Sci Cent Ref Doc. 16-08; 145 p. Available from: National Marine Fisheries Service, 

166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026, or online at http://www.nefsc.noaa.

gov/publications/ doi:10.7289/V5/RD-NEFSC-16-08
3 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES........................................................................................................................... 3

LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................................... 8

ABSTRACT/EXECUTIVE SUMMARY....................................................................................... 14

INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 14

FISHERY DEPENDENT INFORMATION................................................................................... 15

Commercial Fishery Landings.................................................................................................... 15

Commercial Fishery Discards..................................................................................................... 17

Recreational Fishery Catch......................................................................................................... 18

Landings by Species Estimation ................................................................................................. 18

Discards by Species Estimation.................................................................................................. 19

Hindcast Species Estimation for Both Landings and Discards..................................................... 20

Thorny Skate Catch.................................................................................................................... 20

RESEARCH SURVEY DATA-Mobile Gear Surveys.................................................................... 21

NEFSC Indices........................................................................................................................... 21

NEFSC BTS Indices of Spatial Distribution ............................................................................... 22

Shrimp Survey ........................................................................................................................... 22

Massachusetts Inshore Survey.................................................................................................... 22

Maine-New Hampshire Survey................................................................................................... 23

RESEARCH SURVEY DATA-NEFSC Bottom Longline Survey.................................................. 24

Survey Design............................................................................................................................ 24

Distribution and Indices ............................................................................................................. 24

References Cited ............................................................................................................................ 26

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Source of landings of skates (all species) for United States from 1964-1988. “gen can” = 

general canvas................................................................................................................................ 29

Table 2. United States landings (mt, live weight) of skates (all species) by statistical area. US 

landings are from Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) database from 1964-1988, 

weighout (WO) from 1989-1993, and WO and Vessel Trip Report (VTR) bait landings sold boat 

to boat from 1994-2014. Statistical areas identified in Figure 1. ..................................................... 30

Table 3. Total commercial landings of skate (mt, live weight) in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries 

Organization (NAFO) subareas 5 and 6 by country from 1960-2014. US landings are from 
4 

NAFO database from 1964-1988, weighout (WO) from 1989-1993, and WO and Vessel Trip 

Report (VTR) bait landings sold boat to boat from 1994-2014. USSR and Others landings are 

from NAFO website (www.nafo.int). ............................................................................................. 34

Table 4. US commerical landings (mt, live wt) of skates (all species) by month from 1964-2014. 

Landings are from Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) database and general 

canvas from 1964-1988, weighout (WO) from 1989-1993 and WO and Vessel Trip Report 

(VTR) bait landings sold boat to boat from 1994-2014. .................................................................. 35

Table 5. US commercial landings (mt, live wt) of skates (all species) by state from 1964-2014. 

Landings are from Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) database and general 

canvas from 1964-1988, weighout (WO) from 1989-1993, and WO and Vessel Trip Report 

(VTR) bait landings sold boat to boat from 1994-2014. .................................................................. 37

Table 6. US Commercial landings (mt, live wt) of skates (all species) by gear type from 1964-

2014. US landings are from Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) database and 

general canvas from 1964-1988, weighout (WO) from 1989-1993, and WO and Vessel Trip 

Report (VTR) bait landings sold boat to boat from 1994-2014........................................................ 38

Table 7. Landings of skate, all species, (mt, live wt) by region. Landings from unknown region 

were apportioned by using 50/50 Georges Bank (GB) and Southern New England (SNE) for nonUS landings, 80/20 SNE/ Gulf of Maine (GM) for the 1968-1980 industrial fishery, and the ratio 

of known regions for the rest of the time series............................................................................... 39

Table 8. Estimated discards (mt, live wt) of skates (all species) by gear type taken in the Gulf of 

Maine-Georges Bank region, 1964-2014. ....................................................................................... 40

Table 9. Estimated discards (mt, live wt) of skates (all species) by gear type taken in the 

Southern New England-Mid-Atlantic region, 1964-2014. ............................................................... 42

Table 10. Estimated discards (mt, live wt) of skates (all species) by gear type, 1964-2014............. 44

Table 11. US landings (mt, live wt) of skates by market and species from 1983-2014. Data are 

from Weighout (WO) and Vessel Trip Reports (VTR, only for bait landings sold boat to boat). 

Skate species include: little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), winter skate (L. ocellata), barndoor skate 

(Dipturus laevis), thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata), smooth skate (Malacoraja senta), clearnose 

skate (Raja eglanteria), and rosette skate (L. garmani). “Uncl.” = unclassified............................... 46

Table 12. US landings (mt, live wt) of skates by state and species from 2004-2014. Data are from 

weighout (WO) and Vessel Trip Reports (VTR, only for bait landings sold boat to boat). Skate 

species include: little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), winter skate (L. ocellata), barndoor skate 

(Dipturus laevis), thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata), smooth skate (Malacoraja senta), clearnose 

skate (Raja eglanteria), and rosette skate (L. garmani). “Uncl.” = unclassified............................... 48

Table 13. Number of landed skates (all species) measured by the bait fishery, region, and season. 

The bait fishery are fish <= 60 cm. The lines indicate which years were pooled by area (Gulf of 
5

Maine [GM] and Georges Bank [GB],first 4 columns) and area combined (columns under GMGB). The third part of the table shows the final pooling chosen. ..................................................... 52

Table 14. Number of landed skates (all species) measured by the wing fishery, region, and 

season. The wing fishery are fish > 60 cm. The lines indicate which years were pooled by area 

(Gulf of Maine [GM] and Georges Bank [GB], first 4 columns) and area combined (columns 

under GM-GB). The third part of the table shows the final pooling chosen..................................... 53

Table 15. Number of landed skates (all species) measured by the bait fishery, region, and season. 

The bait fishery are fish <= 60 cm. The lines indicate which years were pooled by area (Southern 

New England [SNE] and Mid-Atlantic [MA], first 4 columns) and area combined (columns 

under SNE-MA). The third part of the table shows the final pooling chosen................................... 54

Table 16. Number of landed skates (all species) measured by the wing fishery, region, and 

season. The wing fishery are fish > 60 cm. The lines indicate which years were pooled by area 

(Southern New England [SNE] and Mid-Atlantic [MA], first 4 columns) and area combined 

(columns under SNE-MA). The third part of the table shows the final pooling chosen.................... 55

Table 17. Landings (Lnd), total discards (TD), dead discards (DD), and total catch (Cat) for 

thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) using reported species and 3 different pooling schemes (Region 

Method (Gulf of Maine-Georges Bank [GM-GB] and Southern New England-Mid-Atlantic 

[SNE-MA]), Area Method (GM, GB, SNE, MA)), and Final Pooling (a combination of the first 

two methods))) to derive species proportion. All catches are in mt. ................................................ 56

Table 18. Number of length samples by region, year, and season for the discarded component of 

the otter trawl skate catch (all species) from the Observer Program. The lines indicate which 

years were pooled by area (Gulf of Maine [GM] and Georges Bank [GB], first 4 columns) and 

area combined (columns under GM-GB). The third part of the table shows the final pooling 

chosen............................................................................................................................................ 57

Table 19. Number of length samples by region, year, and season for the discarded component of 

the otter trawl skate catch (all species) from the Observer Program. The lines indicate which 

years were pooled by area (Southern New England [SNE] and Mid-Atlantic [MA], first 4 

columns) and area combined (columns under SNE-MA). The third part of the table shows the 

final pooling chosen. ...................................................................................................................... 58

Table 20. Number of length samples by region, year, and season for the discarded component of 

the sink gill net skate catch (all species) from the Observer Program. The lines indicate which 

years were pooled by area (Gulf of Maine [GM] and Georges Bank [GB], first 4 columns) and 

area combined (columns under GM-GB). The third part of the table shows the final pooling 

chosen............................................................................................................................................ 59

Table 21. Number of length samples by region, year, and season for the discarded component of 

the sink gill net skate catch (all species) from the Observer Program. The lines indicate which 

years were pooled by area (Southern New England [SNE] and Mid-Atlantic [MA], first 4 
6

columns) and area combined (columns under SNE-MA). The third part of the table shows the 

final pooling chosen. ...................................................................................................................... 60

Table 22. Number of length samples by region, year, and season for the discarded component of 

the scallop dredge skate catch (all species) from the Observer Program. The lines indicate which 

years were pooled by area (Gulf of Maine [GM] and Georges Bank [GB], first 4 columns) and 

area combined (columns under GM-GB). The third part of the table shows the final pooling 

chosen............................................................................................................................................ 61

Table 23. Number of length samples by region, year, and season for the discarded component of 

the scallop dredge skate catch (all species) from the Observer Program. The lines indicate which 

years were pooled by area (Southern New England [SNE] and Mid-Atlantic [MA], first 4 

columns) and area combined (columns under SNE-MA). The third part of the table shows the 

final pooling chosen. ...................................................................................................................... 62

Table 24. Number of length samples by year and season for the discarded component of the 

shrimp trawl and longline (LL) skate catch (all species)from the Observer Program in the Gulf of 

Maine (GM) and Georges Bank (GB) area. .................................................................................... 63

Table 25. Total landings (mt, live wt) of skates by species from 1968-2015, using the final 

pooling method. Skate species include: little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), winter skate (L. 

ocellata), barndoor skate (Dipturus laevis), thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata), smooth skate 

(Malacoraja senta), clearnose skate (Raja eglanteria), and rosette skate (L. garmani).................... 64

Table 26. Total discards (mt, live wt) of skates by species from 1968-2015, using the final 

pooling method. Skate species include: little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), winter skate (L. 

ocellata), barndoor skate (Dipturus laevis), thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata), smooth skate 

(Malacoraja senta), clearnose skate (Raja eglanteria), and rosette skate (L. garmani).................... 65

Table 27. Dead discards (mt, live wt) of skates by species from 1968-2015, using the final 

pooling method. Skate species include: little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), winter skate (L. 

ocellata), barndoor skate (Dipturus laevis), thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata), smooth skate 

(Malacoraja senta), clearnose skate (Raja eglanteria), and rosette skate (L. garmani).................... 66

Table 28. Total catch (mt, live wt, landings + dead discards) of skates by species from 1968-

2015, using the final pooling method. Skate species include: little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), 

winter skate (L. ocellata), barndoor skate (Dipturus laevis), thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata), 

smooth skate (Malacoraja senta), clearnose skate (Raja eglanteria), and rosette skate (L. 

garmani). ....................................................................................................................................... 67

Table 29. Landings of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) and total and dead discards of thorny 

skate by gear type (ll = longline; ot = otter trawl + shrimp trawl; sgn = sink gill net; sd = scallop 

dredge)........................................................................................................................................... 68

Table 30. Abundance and biomass from Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) spring 

surveys for thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) for the Gulf of Maine to Southern New England 
7

region (offshore strata 1-30, 34-40). The mean index (mn), 95% confidence intervals (L [lower], 

U [upper]), individual fish weight (ind wt [kg]), minimum, mean (mn), and maximum length, 

5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles of length, number of positive tows (pos), and number of fish (fish) 

caught, area sampled, mean bottom temperature (°C) and depth (m), mean day of year, and total 

number of tows are presented for 1968-2015.................................................................................. 70

Table 31. Abundance and biomass from Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) fall 

surveys for thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) for the Gulf of Maine to Southern New England 

region (offshore strata 1-30, 34-40). The mean index (mn), 95% confidence intervals (L [lower], 

U [upper]), individual fish weight (ind wt [kg]), minimum, mean, and maximum length, 5th, 

50th, and 95th percentiles of length, number of positive tows (pos), and number of fish (fish) 

caught, area sampled, mean bottom temperature (°C) and depth (m), mean day of year, and total 

number of tows are presented for 1963-2015.................................................................................. 71

Table 32. Minimum swept area biomass and abundance of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) 

from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) spring and fall surveys. .............................. 73

Table 33. Abundance and biomass from Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission shrimp 

trawl surveys for thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) for shrimp strata 1, 3, 5-8). The mean index 

(mn), 95% confidence intervals (L [lower], U [upper]), individual fish weight (ind wt [kg]), 

minimum, mean, and maximum length, 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles of length, number of 

positive tows (pos), and number of fish (fish) caught, area sampled, mean bottom temperature 

(°C) and depth (m), mean day of year, and total number of tows are presented for 1985-2015....... 74

Table 34. Abundance and biomass from Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) 

spring trawl surveys for thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) for the (Mass strata 11-36). The mean 

index (mn), 95% confidence intervals (L [lower], U [upper]), individual fish weight (ind wt 

[kg]), minimum, mean, and maximum length, 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles of length, number 

of positive tows (pos), and number of fish (fish) caught, area sampled, mean bottom temperature 

(°C) and depth (m), mean day of year, and total number of tows are presented for 1978-2015........ 75

Table 35. Abundance and biomass from Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) fall 

trawl surveys for thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) for the (Mass strata 11-36). The mean index 

(mn), 95% confidence intervals (L [lower], U [upper]), individual fish weight (ind wt [kg]), 

minimum, mean, and maximum length, 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles of length, number of 

positive tows (pos), and number of fish (fish) caught, area sampled, mean bottom temperature 

(°C) and depth (m), mean day of year, and total number of tows are presented for 1978-2015........ 76

Table 36. Ratio of the bottom longline survey to the bottom trawl survey (LLS/BTS) of thorny 

skate (Amblyraja radiata) stratified mean number and weight per set/tow of the LLS to the BTS 

for all stations types combined, and for rough and smooth station type, in the Gulf of Maine 

(strata 27, 28, 29, 36, 37) during spring and fall, 2014-2015........................................................... 77
8 

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Statistical areas used for reporting United States commercial landings of all species of 

fish................................................................................................................................................. 78

Figure 2. Total reported landings of skates (all species) in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries 

Organization (NAFO) subareas 5 and 6.......................................................................................... 79

Figure 3. Total discards of skates (all species) in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization 

(NAFO) subareas 5 and 6. The green triangles represent the old estimates from the Data Poor 

Stocks Working Group. The blue circles are updated with changes in data. The red squares are 

estimates using the changes in data but imputing for cells in which the number of trips sampled 

was less than 3. .............................................................................................................................. 79

Figure 4. Length composition of the kept skate (all species) measured by the Observer Program 

by gear type. .................................................................................................................................. 80

Figure 5. Skate (all species) length composition from commercial landings data, 1994-2013, 

pooling length frequencies by region.............................................................................................. 81

Figure 6. Skate (all species) length composition from commercial landings data, 1994-2013, 

pooling length frequencies by area. ................................................................................................ 82

Figure 7. Map of offshore strata for the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) fall and 

spring surveys. ............................................................................................................................... 83

Figure 8. Map of inshore strata for the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) fall and 

spring surveys. ............................................................................................................................... 84

Figure 9. Comparison of proportion thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) of total skate landings by 

reported species and using 3 different methods............................................................................... 85

Figure 10. Comparison of proportion thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) of total skate wing 

landings by reported species and using 4 different methods............................................................ 85

Figure 11. Comparison of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) landings by reported species and 

using 3 different methods. .............................................................................................................. 86

Figure 12. Kept and discards of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the observer program 

from 1994-2015. ............................................................................................................................ 87

Figure 13. Skate (all species) length composition from commercial discard data, 1994-2013, 

pooling length frequencies by region.............................................................................................. 88

Figure 14. Skate (all species) length composition from commercial discard data, 1994-2013, 

pooling length frequencies by area. ................................................................................................ 89
9

Figure 15. Comparison of percentage thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) of total skate discards by 

reported species and using 3 different methods............................................................................... 90

Figure 16. Comparison of total thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) discards by observed species 

and using 3 different methods......................................................................................................... 90

Figure 17. Comparison of dead thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) discards by observed species 

and using 3 different methods......................................................................................................... 91

Figure 18. Catch (landings plus dead discards) by species from 1968-2014. Skate species 

include: little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), winter skate (L. ocellata), barndoor skate (Dipturus 

laevis), thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata), smooth skate (Malacoraja senta), clearnose skate 

(Raja eglanteria), and rosette skate (L. garmani)............................................................................ 91

Figure 19. Catch of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) by disposition and gear type from 1968-

2014............................................................................................................................................... 92

Figure 20. Distribution of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the Northeast Fisheries Science 

Center (NEFSC) surveys compared to the observed catches in the fisheries for 1996-2005............. 93

Figure 21. Distribution of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the Northeast Fisheries Science 

Center (NEFSC) surveys compared to the observed catches in the fisheries for 2006-2015............. 94

Figure 22. Abundance and biomass of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Northeast 

Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) spring (circles) and fall (squares) bottom trawl surveys from 

1963-2015 in the Gulf of Maine to Southern New England offshore region.................................... 95

Figure 23. Abundance and biomass of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Northeast 

Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) spring bottom trawl surveys from 1968-2015 in the Gulf of 

Maine to Southern New England offshore region. Mean index in solid squares, 95% confidence 

interval in open squares.................................................................................................................. 96

Figure 24. Abundance and biomass of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the NEFSC fall 

bottom trawl surveys from 1963-2015 in the Gulf of Maine to Southern New England offshore 

region. Mean index in solid squares, 95% confidence interval in open squares. .............................. 97

Figure 25. Minimum swept area biomass of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the Northeast 

Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) spring (bottom panel) and fall surveys (top panel) from 1963-

2015 by region (GM = Gulf of Maine; GB = Georges Bank; SNE = Southern New England; SS = 

Scotian Shelf)................................................................................................................................. 98

Figure 26. Minimum swept area abundance of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the Northeast 

Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) spring (bottom panel) and fall surveys (top panel) from 1963-

2015 by region (GM = Gulf of Maine; GB = Georges Bank; SNE = Southern New England; SS = 

Scotian Shelf)................................................................................................................................. 99
10

Figure 27. Minimum (red circles), 5th percentile (blue squares), mean (green squares), median 

(green circles), 95th percentile (blue circles) and maximum (red squares) total length (cm) of 

thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the spring bottom trawl surveys from 1968-2015 in the 

Gulf of Maine to Southern New England region........................................................................... 100

Figure 28. Minimum (red circles), 5th percentile (blue squares), mean (green squares), median 

(green circles), 95th percentile (blue circles) and maximum (red squares) total length (cm) of 

thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the fall bottom trawl surveys from 1963-2015 in the Gulf 

of Maine to Southern New England region. .................................................................................. 101

Figure 29. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) length composition from the Northeast Fisheries 

Science Center (NEFSC) spring and fall bottom trawl surveys in the Gulf of Maine to Southern 

New England offshore region, 1963-1972. ................................................................................... 102

Figure 30. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) length composition from the Northeast Fisheries 

Science Center (NEFSC) spring and fall bottom trawl surveys in the Gulf of Maine to Southern 

New England offshore region, 1973-1982. ................................................................................... 103

Figure 31. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) length composition from the Northeast Fisheries 

Science Center (NEFSC) spring and fall bottom trawl surveys in the Gulf of Maine to Southern 

New England offshore region, 1983-1992. ................................................................................... 104

Figure 32. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) length composition from the Northeast Fisheries 

Science Center (NEFSC) spring and fall bottom trawl surveys in the Gulf of Maine to Southern 

New England offshore region, 1993-2002. ................................................................................... 105

Figure 33. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) length composition from the Northeast Fisheries 

Science Center (NEFSC) spring and fall bottom trawl surveys in the Gulf of Maine to Southern 

New England offshore region, 2003-2012. ................................................................................... 106

Figure 34. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) length composition from the Northeast Fisheries 

Science Center (NEFSC) spring and fall bottom trawl surveys in the Gulf of Maine to Southern 

New England offshore region, 2013-2015. ................................................................................... 107

Figure 35. Fraction positive tows of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Northeast 

Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) spring and fall surveys. The solid line is a Loess smooth of 

0.5................................................................................................................................................ 108

Figure 36. Example computation of the Gini index for thorny skate during fall 1963 in the Gulf 

of Maine to Southern New England region. .................................................................................. 109

Figure 37. Gini indices of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Northeast Fisheries Science 

Center (NEFSC) fall survey. The solid line is a Loess smooth of 0.4............................................ 110
11

Figure 38. Design-weighted area occupied (DWAO) of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the 

spring and fall surveys.................................................................................................................. 111

Figure 39. Distribution of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in 4 time periods (1968-1970, 1989-

1991, 2007-2009, and 2013-2015) from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) spring 

survey. ......................................................................................................................................... 112

Figure 40. Distribution of thorny skate in 4 time periods (1968-1970, 1989-1991, 2007-2009, and 

2013-2015) from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) fall survey............................. 113

Figure 41. Map of survey strata for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission shrimp 

survey. ......................................................................................................................................... 114

Figure 42. Abundance and biomass of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Atlantic States 

Marine Fisheries Commission shrimp surveys from 1985-2015. Mean index in solid squares, 

95% confidence interval in open squares. ..................................................................................... 115

Figure 43. Minimum (red circles), 5th percentile (blue circles), mean (green squares), median 

(green circles), 95th percentile (blue circles) and maximum (red circles) total length (cm) of 

thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission shrimp 

surveys from 1992-2015............................................................................................................... 116

Figure 44. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) length composition from the Atlantic States 

Marine Fisheries Commission shrimp surveys, 1992-2011. .......................................................... 117

Figure 45. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) length composition from the Atlantic States 

Marine Fisheries Commission shrimp surveys, 2012-2015. .......................................................... 118

Figure 46. Map of survey strata sampled by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries 

(DMF) from Sosebee and Cadrin 2005. ........................................................................................ 119

Figure 47. Abundance and biomass of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Massachusetts 

spring and fall bottom trawl survey in state waters (Strata 11-36)................................................. 120

Figure 48. Abundance and biomass of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Massachusetts 

Division of Marine Fisheries spring bottom trawl surveys from 1978-2015. Mean index in solid 

squares, 95% confidence interval in open squares......................................................................... 121

Figure 49. Abundance and biomass of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Massachusetts 

Division of Marine Fisheries fall bottom trawl surveys from 1978-2015. Mean index in solid 

squares, 95% confidence interval in open squares......................................................................... 122

Figure 50. Minimum (red circles), 5th percentile (blue squares), mean (green squares), median 

(green circles), 95th percentile (blue circles) and maximum (red squares) total length (cm) of 

thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries spring 

bottom trawl surveys from 1978-2015.......................................................................................... 123
12

Figure 51. Minimum (red circles), 5th percentile (blue circles), mean (green squares), median 

(green circles), 95th percentile (blue circles) and maximum (red circles) total length (cm) of 

thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries fall 

bottom trawl surveys from 1978-2015.......................................................................................... 124

Figure 52. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) length composition from the Massachusetts 

Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) spring and fall bottom trawl surveys, 1978-1987.......... 125

Figure 53. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) length composition from the Massachusetts 

Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) spring and fall bottom trawl surveys, 1988-1997.......... 126

Figure 54. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) length composition from the Massachusetts 

Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) spring and fall bottom trawl surveys, 1998-2007.......... 127

Figure 55. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) length composition from the Massachusetts 

Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) spring and fall bottom trawl surveys, 2008-2015.......... 128

Figure 56. Map of the Maine – New Hampshire (MENH) survey area. There are 5 geographic 

regions and 4 depth strata............................................................................................................. 129

Figure 57. Percent occurrence of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the Maine – New 

Hampshire (MENH) survey.......................................................................................................... 130

Figure 58. Relative abundance (top panel) and biomass (bottom panel) indices of thorny skate 

(Amblyraja radiata)from the Maine – New Hampshire (MENH) spring survey. The confidence 

intervals are 2 standard errors....................................................................................................... 131

Figure 59. Relative abundance (top panel) and biomass (bottom panel) indices of thorny skate 

(Amblyraja radiata) from the Maine – New Hampshire (MENH) fall survey. The confidence 

intervals are 2 standard errors....................................................................................................... 132

Figure 60. Length composition (stratified mean number per tow) of thorny skate (Amblyraja 

radiata)from the Maine – New Hampshire (MENH) spring survey. ............................................. 133

Figure 61. Length composition (stratified mean number per tow) of thorny skate (Amblyraja 

radiata) from the Maine – New Hampshire (MENH) fall survey. ................................................. 134

Figure 62. Distribution of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the Maine – New Hampshire 

(MENH) spring survey from 2001-2010....................................................................................... 135

Figure 63. Distribution of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the Maine – New Hampshire 

(MENH) spring survey from 2011-2015....................................................................................... 136

Figure 64. Distribution of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the Maine – New Hampshire 

(MENH) fall survey from 2001-2010. .......................................................................................... 137
13

Figure 65. Distribution of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the Maine – New Hampshire 

(MENH) fall survey from 2011-2014. .......................................................................................... 138

Figure 66. The Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) Northeast Cooperative Research 

Program bottom longline survey strata (NEFSC offshore bottom trawl survey strata 26, 27, 28, 

29, 36, 37) with rough (yellow) and smooth (blue) bottom type substrata. The dotted line 

designates parts of stratum areas not sampled in Canadian waters (29, 36) or those not sampled 

because of budget constraints (28, 29, 36). ................................................................................... 139

Figure 67. Distribution of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) by number from the Northeast 

Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) bottom longline survey compared to the NEFSC bottom trawl 

survey for the spring surveys........................................................................................................ 140

Figure 68. Distribution of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) by number from the Northeast 

Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) bottom longline survey compared to the NEFSC bottom trawl 

survey for the fall surveys. ........................................................................................................... 141

Figure 69. Distribution of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) by weight from the Northeast 

Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) bottom longline survey compared to the NEFSC bottom trawl 

survey for the spring surveys........................................................................................................ 142

Figure 70. Distribution of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) by weight from the bottom longline 

survey compared to the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) bottom trawl survey for the 

fall surveys................................................................................................................................... 143

Figure 71. Length composition of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Northeast Fisheries 

Science Center (NEFSC) longline survey by smooth and rough bottom compared to the NEFSC 

bottom trawl survey from the same area. ...................................................................................... 144

Figure 72. Stratified mean number and weight per set for thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from 

the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) bottom longline survey (LLS) for all stations 

(top panel), rough stations (middle panel), and smooth stations (lower panel) during spring and 

fall 2014-2015.............................................................................................................................. 145
14

ABSTRACT/EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The 7 species in the Northeast Region (Maine to Virginia) skate complex are: little skate 

(Leucoraja erinacea), winter skate (L. ocellata), barndoor skate (Dipturus laevis), thorny skate 

(Amblyraja radiata), smooth skate (Malacoraja senta), clearnose skate (Raja eglanteria), and 

rosette skate (L. garmani). Landings have generally been increasing since 2000, and the 2007 

reported commercial landings of 20,342 metric tons (mt) were the highest on record. The 

principal commercial fishing method in the directed skate fishery is otter trawling. Skates are 

frequently taken as bycatch during groundfish trawling and scallop dredge operations and 

discarded. Discard estimates from the Data Poor Stocks Working Group were revised in this 

assessment based on new data and new imputation according to the Standardized Bycatch 

Reporting Methodology (NEFSC 2009). Differences were generally minor and mostly caused by

the imputation. Recreational and foreign landings are currently insignificant. Landings and 

discard estimates were disaggregated to skate species by using several methods, all of which 

showed a decline for thorny skate over the time series.

Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) indices of thorny skate abundance have 

declined steadily since the late 1970s, reaching historically low values in 2012 and 2013 that are 

less than 5% of the peak observed in the 1970s. The minimum swept area abundance and 

biomass in 2015 are 628,000 individuals and 843 mt in the fall and 867,000 skates and 1,264 mt 

in the spring. Survey indices from other surveys are generally in agreement with either a decline 

since the 80s or a flat survey during the 2000s. In 2014 a new cooperative bottom longline 

survey was implemented that is able to cover rough bottom that the regular bottom trawl cannot 

survey. This survey, while currently only 2 years in duration, indicates that more thorny skate are 

caught on rough bottom than on smooth.

INTRODUCTION

The 7 species in the Northeast Region (Maine to Virginia) skate complex are distributed 

along the coast of the northeast United States from near the tide line to depths exceeding 700 m 

(383 fathoms; Bigelow and Schroeder 1953; Collette and Klein-McPhee 2002). The species are:

little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), winter skate (L. ocellata), barndoor skate (Dipturus laevis), 

thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata), smooth skate (Malacoraja senta), clearnose skate (Raja 

eglanteria), and rosette skate (L. garmani).

The first stock assessment for the skate complex was conducted in 1999 at the 30th Stock 

Assessment Review Committee (SARC 30) meeting (NEFSC 2000). At that time there was no 

Fishery Management Plan (FMP) in place. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) had 

been petitioned to list barndoor skate as endangered based on a paper by Casey and Myers 

(1998) and was also asked to assess the other species in the complex. SARC 30 found no cause 

to list barndoor as endangered but recommended that the species remain on the candidate species 

list as well as adding thorny skate as a candidate species. Biomass reference points were 

developed for all 7 species and 4 (winter, barndoor, thorny, and smooth skates) were listed as 

overfished. Fishing mortality reference points were only developed for winter and little skate and 

overfishing was occurring for winter skate.

A Fishery Management Plan (FMP) was developed by the New England Fishery 

Management Council (NEFMC), following SARC 30, when they were informed of the 
15

overfished status of thorny and barndoor skate (biomass of both winter and smooth skate

increased in the 1999 fall survey, and they were no longer considered overfished; NEFMC 

2003). The FMP was implemented in September of 2003 with a primary requirement for 

mandatory reporting of skate landings by species by both dealers and vessels. Possession 

prohibitions of barndoor and thorny skate as well as smooth skate in the Gulf of Maine were also 

provisions of the FMP. A trip limit of 10,000 lbs was implemented for winter skate with a Letter 

of Authorization for the bait fishery (little skate) to exceed the trip limit. The biomass reference 

points developed at SARC 30 were maintained, but new fishing mortality reference points were 

developed. Management measures in other FMPs (groundfish, monkfish, and scallop) were 

specified and if these changed, the Plan Development Team would need to address the change.

The stock complex was next assessed in 2006 at SARC/Stock Assessment Workshop 

(SAW) 44 (NEFSC 2007). Several methods were attempted to develop fishing mortality 

estimates and biological reference points. These included the Gedamke and Hoenig (2006)

length-based mortality estimator, length-based yield-per-recruit, spawner-per-recruit, and a 

length-tuned model. None of these methods were accepted, although some showed promise. The 

existing reference points were maintained.

The last benchmark assessment was conducted through the Data Poor Stocks Working 

Group (DPSWG) in 2008 (NEFSC 2009). The reference points were updated with the same 

method, but through fall 2007 or spring 2008, since the fall survey was not completed. One of 

the new developments at that assessment was the derivation of catches by species. Two methods 

were developed, and neither was considered superior. The catches by species have been used in 

the development of Allowable Biological Catches since 2012. 

In 2009, Amendment 3 to the Skate FMP was implemented (NEFMC 2010). This

amendment removed the specified management measures in other FMPs, since many of these 

were obsolete and no longer applied. Measures were developed to limit catches (Annual Catch 

Limits, Accountability Measures) for the bait and wing fisheries. The wing fishery trip limit was 

reduced from 10,000 lbs to 5,000 lbs while a possession limit of 20,000 lbs was introduced for 

the bait fishery. Seasonal quotas were introduced for the bait fishery. The updated reference 

points from the DPSWG were formally adopted.

In May of 2015, NMFS was petitioned to list thorny skate as endangered. To provide 

guidance in addressing this issue, this paper updates the landings and discards of all skates 

through 2014, updates the available survey information for thorny skate through 2015, and 

provides results for thorny skate from a new longline survey conducted in 2014 and 2015.

FISHERY DEPENDENT INFORMATION

Commercial Fishery Landings

Skates have been reported in New England fishery landings since the late 1800s.

However, commercial fishery landings, primarily from off Rhode Island, never exceeded several 

hundred metric tons until the advent of distant-water fleets and the industrial fishery during the 

1950s and 1960s. The landings in this paper were taken from a different data source than the 

previous assessment (NEFSC 2009). In examining the landings by state from the NMFS 

weighout system and the historical general canvas system (Rounsefell 1948) it appeared that the 

general canvas had higher landings for most states. The landings from the general canvas were
16

used instead of the weighout when this occurred (Table 1). The total landings prior to 1994 are 

not different since the totals were derived from the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization 

(NAFO) database (www.nafo.int) in the same manner as the last assessment (NEFSC 2009). The 

NAFO database has much higher landings because the industrial fishery landings are not in 

either the weighout or general canvas by species. They were sampled to derive species 

composition and then sent to NAFO. Another difference between this paper and the last 

assessment (NEFSC 2009) is that bait landings reported on Vessel Trip Reports as sold from 

boat-to-boat are now included in the totals.

United States (US) landings have generally been from US waters, but have occasionally 

come from Canadian waters and more recently the Grand Banks off Newfoundland outside 

Canadian territorial waters (Table 2). The main statistical areas for skate landings have been 513 

and 514 in the Gulf of Maine (GM, Table 2, Figure 1), 521 on Georges Bank (GB), and 537 and 

539 in Southern New England (SNE). The Mid-Atlantic (MA; statistical areas >= 600) landings 

are generally dominated by statistical area 611, which is Long Island Sound.

Total skate landings reached 9,462 mt in 1969 but declined quickly during the 1970s, 

falling to 847 mt in 1981 (Table 3, Figure 2). Landings then increased substantially, partially in 

response to increased demand for lobster bait, and more significantly, to the increased export 

market for skate wings. Landings increased to 12,904 mt in 1993 and then declined to 7,978 mt 

in 1995. Landings increased again, and the 2007 reported commercial landings of 20,342 mt 

were the highest on record (Table 3, Figure 2). Landings have since declined to between 15,000 

and 16,000 mt.

United States landings were dominated by the industrial fishery from 1964-1981 and 

peaked at 4,081 tons at the beginning of the time series (Table 3). With the increased demand for 

bait and increased export market for wings, landings increased, peaking in 2007. Landings from 

other countries were dominated by the USSR between 1967 and 1979, peaking at 7,957 mt in 

1972. Landings from other countries generally accounted for less than 100 mt.

United States landings of skates are reported in all months (Table 4). There is a relatively 

even distribution of landings across months, but the summer months do show a slightly higher 

percentage, probably because of the increased demand for lobster bait during those months.

Skate landings are primarily from Massachusetts and Rhode Island (mainly New Bedford 

and Point Judith) with 80-95% of the landings occurring in those 2 states (Table 5). Landings 

from other states did occur, and some are becoming more important over time with New York 

and New Jersey accounting for about 10 -15% in the last 5 years.

Otter trawls have been the primary gear used to land skates in the United States, with 

landings also coming from sink gill nets, longlines, and other/unknown gear (Table 6). Over the 

last 5 years, the use of sink gill nets is almost equal to otter trawl and even exceeded otter trawls 

in 2011 and 2014. Longline landings exceeded 100 mt in 1995, 1996, and 2005, but generally 

remain low comparatively. The increase in other gear after 2004 was a result of the reporting 

system implemented in 2004. 

Landings historically were taken from Georges Bank and Southern New England during 

the early 1960s as the industrial fishery operated mainly out of Point Judith, RI, and Maine, and

the distant-water fleet fished mainly on Georges Bank and in Southern New England (Table 7).

Landings from the Mid-Atlantic increased through the early 2000s, while landings from Georges 

Bank were the highest on record in 2007.
17

Commercial Fishery Discards

Discard estimates from DPSWG (NEFSC 2009) were revised in this assessment. The 

same ratio-estimator was used in this assessment and is based on the methodology described in 

Rago et al. (2005) and updated in Wigley et al. 2007. It relies on a discard/kept (d/k) ratio where 

the kept component is defined as the total landings of all species within a “fishery,” which is 

defined as a homogeneous group of vessels with respect to gear type (longline, otter trawl, 

shrimp trawl, sink gill net, and scallop dredge), quarter (months 1-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-12), and area 

fished (GM (areas 510-515), GB (areas 520-525, 561, 562), SNE (areas 530-539, 540-543), MA

(areas >= 600)). Mesh size was not used to split out otter trawl trips or sink gill net trips. All trips 

were included if they occurred within this stratification, regardless of whether or not they caught 

skates. 

The discard rate (Rh) for skates in stratum h is the sum of discard weight over all trips 

divided by sum of kept weights over all trips:

∑

∑

=

= = h

h

n

i

ih

n

i

ih

h

k

d

R

1

1 ˆ (1)

where dih is the discards for skates within trip i in stratum h, and kih is the kept component 

of the catch for all species. The total discard amount within a stratum is simply the product of the 

estimated discard rate Rh and the total landings for the fishery defined as stratum h, i.e., 

Dh=RhKh. The total discards are the sum of all the strata.

There are 2 differences between the discards estimated from the last assessment (NEFSC 

2009) and those from this paper. The first is that some of the data have changed, with more trips 

included in the observer data and some updates to the landings data. The second is that the 

imputation was done for missing cells as well as cells in which the number of trips was less than 

3. These were imputed by using weighted averages of existing cells (sum discards/sum kept). 

Imputation occurred semiannually within an area, then relaxed to annually within area fished, 

then annual over region (i.e., SNE and MA or GM and GB). There were some cases for the 

longline fishery in which the entire year was averaged for all areas or for a span of 12 years

(1993-2004) and for which ratios were used from GM-GB for SNE-MA. To hindcast the discard 

estimates back to 1964, a 3-year weighted average (the earliest 3 years of data) of the discards of 

skates to the landings of all species was used to calculate the d/k ratio. 

The updates in data did not impact the discard estimates as much as the change in 

imputation (Figure 3), although even the imputation only impacted 1 year by reducing a large 

peak. Discards were above 100,000 mt in the early 1960s and declined to below 60,000 mt in the 

1970s (Figure 3, Tables 8-10). Discards generally increased to a peak in 1990 and then declined 

to a stable value of around 40,000 mt from the late 1990s through 2014. The 2 main gear types 

that account for the majority if the discards are otter trawl and scallop dredge (Tables 8-10).

Discards from GM-GB accounted for a higher proportion of the total early in the time series but 

declined to less than 50% of the total during the last few years.
18

Recreational Fishery Catch

Recreational catches were very low in the last assessment (NEFSC 2009) and were not 

updated for this paper.

Landings by Species Estimation

Landings were generally not reported by species, with over 99% of the landings reported 

as “unclassified skates” until the FMP was implemented in September of 2003 (Table 11). Wings 

were most likely taken from winter and thorny skates, the 2 species historically known to be used 

for human consumption. Since the implementation of the FMP there should not be any barndoor

or thorny skate landed as wings since these species are prohibited. Bait landings are presumed to 

be primarily from little skate, based on areas fished, known species distribution patterns, and size 

of the bait. Landings of barndoor and thorny skate are being reported by the dealers even though 

there is a possession prohibition for those 2 species. There are also wings reported for rosette, 

little, and smooth which are known to be too small for wings. The distribution of skate landings 

by state and species also shows that some species are landed in areas that they likely do not occur 

(Table 12). For example, in 2004, barndoor were landed in Virginia, which is beyond the 

southerly extent of their range. Even with all these caveats, these landings by species were used 

to raise the total landings by market to species. 

The landings estimates were first disaggregated to skate species by the DPSWG (NEFSC 

2009) by using 2 methods (length composition and selectivity ogive methods), each of which had

both strengths and weaknesses. The selectivity ogive method could not be updated for this paper. 

The comparison will be made between the reported landings raised to total, the first method used 

in the previous assessment (NEFSC 2009), and 2 variations of the first method. For the wing 

fishery, another method using port samples (Curtis and Sosebee 2016) will also be compared.

The method used in the last assessment (NEFSC 2009) involved using the observer 

lengths of the kept component of the catch directly. In order to split the data into the bait (whole) 

and wing components of the fishery, a length cutoff of 60 cm was used, since there was no direct 

way of determining the disposition of the landings until recently. This seemed justified, since the 

maximum size in the bait fishery (23 in or 58 cm) was set to be close to the minimum accepted 

length (around 60 cm) for the wing fishery. Examination of the samples by the 2 main gear types

(otter trawl and sink gill net) also showed 2 groups of fish with a trough at about 60 cm (Figure 

4). The data were apportioned into 2 regions (region method), Gulf of Maine to Georges Bank 

(GM-GB – Divisions 51 and 52), and Southern New England to Mid-Atlantic (SNE-MA –

Divisions 53 and Subarea 6). The number of fish measured in these regions was barely sufficient 

prior to about 2002 (Tables 13-16), so no further areal division was attempted for the last 

assessment. For this paper, the data were also split by the 4 areas (area method; GM, GB, SNE, 

and MA). For a final 3rd method, a combination of the 1st method (region) and the 2nd method 

(area) was used to get as much refinement as possible, but avoid pooling over too many years

(final pooling method). For all 3 methods, an average skate length-weight equation was applied 

to the samples and used to estimate the landings numbers at length for each market category

which were then summed to get total number at length (Figures 5 and 6 show the region and area 

methods, respectively). For most years, the numbers are dominated by a peak around 40-50 cm 

which represents the bait fishery and then a broader secondary peak which is the wing fishery.

Length compositions of each species for the 2 regions (GM-GB – Offshore strata 13-30, 

36-40, and Inshore strata 56-66; SNE-MA – Offshore strata 1-12, 61-76, and Inshore strata 1-55
19

and 4 areas (GM – Offshore Strata 26-30,36-40, and Inshore Strata 56-66; GB – Offshore Strata 

13-25; SNE Offshore Strata 1-12 and Inshore Strata 1-14, 45-55; MA Offshore Strata 61-76 and 

Inshore Strata 15-44) were estimated from the spring and fall NEFSC surveys (Figures 7 and 8). 

The species length-weight equations were then applied to determine weight-at-length by species

(Wigley et al. 2003). The proportions at length by species for both number and weight were 

applied to the commercial landings-at-length to estimate landings-at-length by species. The 

lengths had to be grouped into 5 cm intervals starting at 16 cm (the first interval was 1-15 cm) 

through 90 cm to avoid zero cells in the survey. The last length group was 91-112, and all fish 

greater than 112 cm were set to be barndoor skate. Even with the grouping by length, there were 

some missing cells that required imputation, more so in the areal split than the regional split. 

These were filled by using a weighted average of the proportions in the length groups 

surrounding the missing value. All 3 methods assume that the proportion by species in the survey 

is the same as in the fishery with several different gear types. This may be the case if the 

selection of the gear is by length. If the behaviors of the species differ, then this assumption may 

not be valid.

The proportions of thorny skate in the landings as estimated by the 4 methods were fairly 

similar (Figure 9). The areal method generally estimates less thorny skate than the regional 

method. The reported landings were in the middle until the last few years and were the lowest 

proportion in the last couple of years. The proportion of thorny skate in the wing fishery was 

higher in the mid-2000s and has declined to low values (Table 17, Figure 10). The reported wing 

and the proportion from Curtis and Sosebee 2016 were lower than the estimated values. This 

discrepancy is likely because the survey method overestimates the proportion as there is no 

mechanism to reduce the proportion given fishers will likely discard the species that are 

prohibited. All methods indicate that thorny skate landings were around 1,000-2,000 mt in the 

mid-1990s and have declined below 250 mt in recent years (Figure 11).

Discards by Species Estimation

The discard estimates were first disaggregated to skate species by the DPSWG (NEFSC 

2009), as were the landings, but used only 1 method, the length-based method, at that time. For 

this paper there will be a comparison between the discards as identified by the observer raised to 

total, the method used in the previous assessment, and the 2 variations described in the Landings 

by Species Estimation section. The discards were estimated by species, using the identification 

by the observer, the same way that the total discards were estimated. There are 2 additional 

species categories, unclassified and little/winter skate. The little/winter category was split by

using the proportion of the observed little and winter skates, and then the unclassified were split 

by using the overall species proportions. In recent assessments (NEFSC 2007, 2009) it has been 

noted that there were species identification issues, with clearnose and rosette skates identified 

from the Gulf of Maine, which is too far north for these species. Thorny and smooth skate have 

also been identified in the Mid-Atlantic which may be possible in deep water (Figure 12). Even 

without species identification issues, the amount of thorny skate in the longline fishery will be 

biased high because the discard ratios from the GM-GB region were used to estimate those in 

SNE-MA. Since few thorny skate are in SNE-MA, using ratios from GM-GB for thorny skate 

will overestimate the SNE-MA discards. 

The observer length frequencies of the discarded component of the catch were used by 

gear type, and the data were apportioned into the same regions and areas as the landings (Tables 
20

18-24).For the longline and shrimp trawl discards, only 1 method was used because the sampling 

was poor for both gear types (Table 24). For all 3 methods, an average skate length-weight 

equation was applied to the samples and used to estimate the discard numbers at length by gear 

category which were then summed to get total number at length (Figures 13 and 14 show the 

region and area methods, respectively). The length frequencies from both methods show a single 

peak for most years. In the first 3 years there is a secondary peak at a smaller size. This is from 

the scallop dredge length frequency from 1994. There were sufficient lengths (354), but they 

may have been all small fish. The species compositions were derived from the length 

compositions in the same manner as the landings.

The proportion of thorny skate in the discards ranged from less than 0.005 to about 0.055 

(Figure 15). The methods were generally in agreement at the end of the time series with thorny 

skate accounting for about 1% of the skate discards. This 1% of discards translates into about 

400-600 mt of total discards (Table 17, Figure 16). To estimate dead discards, mortality rates 

were applied by species and gear. When experimental data were available, the rates from these 

experiments were used. If there were no data, a mortality rate of 50% was assumed as a very 

rough guess. For otter trawl discards, rates of 9%, 22%, 23%, and 60% were applied to winter,

little, thorny, and smooth skate respectively (Mandelman et al. 2013). For scallop dredge 

discards, rates of 34% and 48% were applied to winter and little skate respectively (Rudders et

al. 2015). When these rates are applied, the amount of dead discards of thorny skate in recent 

years is estimated between 100 and 200 mt (Figure 17).

Hindcast Species Estimation for Both Landings and Discards

Landings and discards by species were hindcast from 1993 back to 1968 by using the 

proportion of species in the spring and fall surveys by weight. The majority of the skate landings 

were winter and little skate (Table 25). Clearnose skate landings increased in importance as the 

amount of landings coming from the Mid-Atlantic increased. Barndoor skate landings also 

increased as their abundance increased, while landings of thorny skate decreased. The same 

trends were observed about the total discards except clearnose skate were a larger proportion of 

the discards through the time series (Table 26). Because the discard mortality rate for winter 

skate was so low (0.09), the amount of winter skate from the dead discards was lower and little 

and thorny skate were also slightly lower (Table 27, Figure 18). Total catch (landings plus dead 

discards) of skates ranged from a low of 15,693 mt in 1976 to a high of 44,307 mt in 1990. After 

the peak in total catch, the discards declined to a relatively stable value of 30,000 mt (Table 28). 

Thorny skate were an important part of the catch in the early part of the time series but were later 

replaced by barndoor skate.

Thorny Skate Catch

Total catch of thorny skate declined from over 5,000 mt in the late 1960s and early 1970s 

to about 200-300 mt in recent years (Table 29, Figure 19). Most of the early catch was from otter 

trawl discards while landings from all gear types dominated the 1990s. Discards from scallop 

dredges increased in importance during the late 1970s and again during the late 1990s.
21

RESEARCH SURVEY DATA-MOBILE GEAR SURVEYS

NEFSC Indices

Indices of relative abundance were developed from NEFSC research bottom trawl 

surveys (BTS) for thorny skate (strata set = offshore strata 1-30, 34-40) (Figures 7 and 8). The 

BTS was conducted in the fall from the Gulf of Maine to Southern New England from 1963 

through the present (Azarovitz 1981; Johnston and Sosebee 2014) and the Mid-Atlantic from 

1967 through the present. A spring survey was started in 1968. There are no statistically 

significant NEFSC gear, door, and vessel (RV Delaware II to RV Alabatross IV) conversion 

factors for thorny skate (Sissenwine and Bowman 1978; Byrne and Forrester 1991a, 1991b). The 

calibration factors estimated in Miller et al. (2010) for thorny skate were applied for both surveys 

from 2009-2015 (3.626 for weight and 3.792 for numbers) by dividing the numbers and weights 

from those surveys by the factors.

NEFSC BTS indicate that thorny skate are most abundant in the GM and GB offshore 

strata regions, with very few fish caught in inshore (< 27 meters depth), SNE, or MA regions 

(NEFSC 2007; Figures 20 and 21). The surveys agree fairly well with the observed catches. In 

the NEFSC spring surveys (1968-2015), the annual total catch of thorny skate has ranged from 

29 fish in 2006 to 571 fish in 1973 (Table 30). In the NEFSC fall surveys (1963-2015), the 

annual total catch of thorny skate has ranged from 26 fish in 2008 to 852 fish in 1978 (Table 31).

Calculated on a per tow basis, these spring and fall survey catches equate to maximum stratified 

mean number per tow indices for the GM-SNE offshore strata of about 2 to 3 fish, or about 6.0 

kg, per tow during the early 1970s (Tables 30-31).

NEFSC spring and fall BTS indices for thorny skate have declined continuously over the 

last 50 years (Figures 22-24). Indices of thorny skate abundance and biomass from the BTS were 

at a peak during the early 1970s, reaching 2.9 fish per tow (5.3 kg per tow) in the spring survey 

and 1.8 fish per tow (5.9 kg per tow) in the fall survey. Kulka and Mowbray (1998) indicated a 

similar period of high abundance for thorny skate in Canadian waters. BTS indices of thorny 

skate abundance have declined steadily since the late 1970s, reaching historically low values in 

2012 and 2013 that are less than 5% of the peak observed in the 1970s (Figures 22-24). 

Minimum swept area was calculated by multiplying the mean wt or number per tow by 

the total area of the survey and dividing by the area swept by a tow (0.0112 nm2

; NEFSC 2006). 

These indicate that there were about 20,000-30,000 mt (equating to 10-16 million fish) of thorny 

skate biomass in the 1960s and 1970s if 100% efficiency of the survey gear is assumed (Table 

32). Most of the biomass and abundance was found in the Gulf of Maine with lesser amounts on 

Georges Bank and the Scotian Shelf (Figures 25 and 26). Edwards (1968) estimated an 

efficiency of 0.1 for thorny skate in the NEFSC survey. This would mean that the 2015 estimates 

of 843 mt and 628,000 fish in the fall survey could be as high as 8,430 mt and 6 million fish.

The minimum length of thorny skate caught in BTS was about 10 cm, and the largest 

individual caught was 112 cm total length, during the 1966 fall survey (Tables 30-31). The 

median length of the survey catch ranged from 23 cm in the 2003 fall survey to 63 cm in the 

1971 fall survey. The median length of the survey catch trended downward through most of the 

survey time series but was stable in recent years in fall surveys at around 40-50 cm (Figures 27 

and 28). Length frequency distributions from the BTS show a pattern of decline in abundance of 

larger individuals consistent with an increase in total mortality over the survey time series 

(Figures 29-34).
22

NEFSC BTS Indices of Spatial Distribution

There are several indicators of possible contractions in distribution. The first is the 

proportion of positive tows in the survey (Tables 30-31 and Figure 35). In the spring and fall 

surveys, the proportion of positive tows generally declined through 2008. The increase seen in 

2009 is driven by the change in survey vessel and gear, which not only caught more thorny skate 

per tow, but also had a higher proportion of positive tows (Miller et al. 2010). 

Another distributional index is the Gini index, derived from a Lorenz curve, which 

simultaneously takes into account biomass and area (Wigley 1996). For this index, the

cumulative percent biomass or abundance by stratum is plotted on the y-axis, and the cumulative 

percent area by stratum is plotted on the x-axis for each year (Figure 36). If the fish are spread 

out, this line would fall on the unity line. The more concentrated the fish are, the greater the 

difference between the unity line and the plotted line. The Gini index is twice the area between 

the 2 lines. A high index indicates that the fish are more concentrated. Thorny skate were less 

concentrated in the early part of the time series and have become more concentrated over time 

(Figure 37).

The last distributional index, design-weighted area of occupancy (DWAO), takes into 

account the area swept by the tows and the proportion of positive tows (Swain et al. 2012). The 

calculation is the proportion of positive tows within a stratum multiplied by the area of that 

stratum and summed over the stock area. The DWAO in both the spring and the fall surveys was 

around 20,000 nm2 at the beginning of the time series, declined to about 5,000 nm2 by 2008 and 

increased again to around 8,000-10,000 nm2 in 2015 (Figure 38). This index is also influenced by 

the change in survey vessel and gear. The changes in distribution can be seen in Figures 39 and 

40 with the broadest distribution found in the early time period (1968-1970) and the sparsest in 

2007-2009. The last time period shows a broadening of the distribution into deeper water but 

also a concentration in the western Gulf of Maine.

Shrimp Survey

Indices of abundance for thorny skate were available from the Atlantic States Marine 

Fisheries Commission shrimp surveys in the offshore waters of the Gulf of Maine from 1985-

2015. This survey occurred during the summer in the deeper parts of the Gulf of Maine (Figure 

41). Throughout the time series only 6 strata were sampled consistently (1, 3, and 5-8, Johnston 

and Sosebee 2014). Shrimp survey indices of thorny skate biomass were variable over the time 

series but decreased in both abundance and biomass (Table 33, Figure 42).

The minimum length of thorny skate caught in the shrimp survey was about 8 cm, and the 

largest individual caught was 106 cm total length, most recently during the 2014 shrimp survey 

(Table 33). The median length of the survey catch ranged from 34 cm in the 2009 survey to 67

cm in the 2005 survey. The median length of the survey catch increased through the early 2000s, 

declined through 2009 and has since been mostly stable (Figure 43). Length frequency 

distributions from the shrimp survey are highly variable (Figures 44-45).

Massachusetts Inshore Survey

Indices of abundance for thorny skate were available from the Massachusetts Division of 

Marine Fisheries (MADMF) spring and fall research trawl surveys in the inshore waters of 

Massachusetts for the years 1978-2015 (Figure 46; Howe 1989; Sosebee and Cadrin 2006). All 

strata were used to derive the indices. MADMF indices of thorny skate biomass have been 

variable over the time series, but there is a decreasing trend evident in both the spring and fall
23

time series (Figure 47, Tables 34 and 35). The spring index had stabilized around the median of 

0.07 kg/tow throughout the 2000s, but has since declined, and none were caught in 2013 (Figure 

48, Table 34). The fall index has generally been below the median of 0.14 kg/tow since 1994 

(Figure 49, Table 35).

The minimum length of thorny skate caught in MADMF surveys was about 12 cm, and 

the largest individual caught was 96 cm total length, most recently during the 1991 fall survey 

(Tables 34-35, Figures 50-51). The median length of the survey catch has ranged from 22 cm in 

the 1992 spring survey to 91 cm in the 2006 spring survey. The median length of the survey 

catch has been variable (Figures 50 and 51). Length frequency distributions from the MADMF

spring and fall surveys show mostly small fish over the survey time series (Figures 52-55).

Maine-New Hampshire Survey

The Maine-New Hampshire (MENH) Inshore Trawl Survey began in 2000 to fill a 

significant information gap in resource assessment surveys on approximately two-thirds of the 

inshore portion of the Gulf of Maine. Now in its 16th year, the MENH Inshore Trawl Survey is 

the longest sustained and comprehensive fisheries-independent survey of the Gulf of Maine 

inshore waters north of Massachusetts. The survey is conducted in collaboration with New 

Hampshire Fish and Game and its industry partner, Robert Michael, Inc. 

The survey operates on a random stratified sampling scheme and follows published 

standard protocols. In total, 20 strata are distributed over 4 depth strata: 5-20 fathoms, 21-35 

fathoms, 36-55 fathoms, and >55 fathoms roughly bounded by the 12-mi limit, and 5

longitudinal regions (Figure 56). Twenty minute standard bottom trawls are performed with a 

sample net specifically designed to sample the bottom populations while not targeting any 

specific species. The current survey objective is to complete 120 random sampling stations along 

the coastal waters of Maine and New Hampshire in the spring and fall. 

Thorny skate is one of the species that is regularly caught at low abundance levels in the 

survey. In the spring, thorny skate are seen in 10-25% of the tows, and that range is fairly 

constant over the time series (Figure 57). The fall percent occurrence is more variable and shows 

a drop in positive tows since 2010 with a slight recovery in 2014. 

The relative abundance indices for thorny skate were estimated for all strata (Figures 58 

and 59). Abundance is low and variable over the time series. Thorny skate are consistently 

sampled in low numbers. For the spring, the range in number of individuals seen in any one 

survey is from 9 to 47, with a series average of 31 individuals per survey. Fall abundance levels 

are also low, with fall 2011 being the lowest of the time series. For the fall, the number of 

individuals caught ranged from 6 to 50, with a seasonal average of 24 individuals. Seasonal 

mean length for thorny skate caught in the spring survey ranged from 27 to 57 cm over the time 

series (Figure 60). Length distribution is similar in the fall surveys, with the seasonal mean 

lengths ranging from 32 to 60 cm (Figure 61). Thorny skate are distributed at higher 

concentrations at the southwestern and northeastern limits of the survey area (Figures 62-65).
24

RESEARCH SURVEY DATA-NEFSC BOTTOM LONGLINE 

SURVEY

Survey Design 

The GM NEFSC Northeast Cooperative Research Program bottom longline survey (LLS) 

was designed to sample complex, rocky habitat not easily accessible to the BTS. The LLS 

stratified random design is based on the NEFSC BTS stratification of depth and area and further 

stratified by “rough” and “smooth” bottom type using a rugosity index (Hare et al. 2012). 

Stations were allocated based on stratum area and bottom type, with 2 stations assigned to 

“smooth” bottom and the remainder to “rough” bottom in each stratum. Two industry longline 

vessels conduct the survey, deploying a line of 1000 hooks over approximately 1 nm and baited 

with squid, at each of 45 stations for 2 hours across slack tide. The survey has been conducted in 

the spring and fall in NEFSC offshore BTS strata 26, 27, 28, 29, 36, and 37 during 2014-2015.

The central GM strata (28, 29, 36) area was too large to complete given the LLS budget,

so parts of the strata were truncated and thus not part of the sample area. Since US commercial 

vessels conduct the survey, those parts of the strata in Canadian waters could not be sampled

(Figure 66).

Distribution and Indices

The distribution of thorny skate by number (Figures 67-68) and by weight (Figures 69-

70) sampled on the LLS are compared to those sampled on the BTS. The distribution of catch is 

similar between the 2 surveys with the LLS having higher catches in “rough” bottom stations 

than in the “smooth” stations. (There was 1 station in stratum 28 where the length frequency was 

not collected, although the weight was obtained).

The LLS caught between 260-308 individuals during the 4 surveys, the majority at the 

“rough” stations, and almost all of these were measured for length (Figure 71). The catchability 

of the gears differ, with the BTS capturing smaller skates than the LLS, but both gears capturing 

similar maximum lengths, although the LLS appears to catch higher numbers of the larger skates 

(e.g. fall 2015). 

While there are only 4 data points, the LLS stratified mean numbers per set for thorny 

skate for all stations and for “rough” stations only (Figure 72) are relatively stable over the 2 

years, showing a slight increase in spring of 2015. The stratified mean weight per set, however, 

shows an increase in 2015 compared to 2014 (Figure 72) which can be explained, in part, by the 

increased proportion of larger skates captured in spring and fall 2015 compared to fall 2014

(Figure 71).

The catchability of thorny skate by the LLS is compared to that of the BTS by using the 

ratio of LLS/BTS mean catch as a relative catchability index. The LLS mean was estimated by 

adding the “rough” and “smooth” mean estimates, weighted by bottom type area (O’Brien et al. 

in prep)).The BTS thorny skate stratified mean number and weight per tow was estimated with 

only those BTS stations that occurred in the truncated LLS strata areas. This specification was 

accomplished by identifying BTS stations within the LLS survey stratum polygons by using 

ArcGIS algorithms (Figure 66). Thus, the stratified means for number and weight were estimated 

with the exact same stratum area and total area for both the LLS and BTS estimates. 

The ratio of LLS/BTS of stratified mean number and weight (Table 36) indicates that the 

LLS had higher catchability (LLS/BTS > 1) of thorny skate than that of the BTS. The LLS/BTS 

is greater than 1.3 for all seasons with the exception of mean weight in spring 2015.
25

Some caveats apply when comparing the LLS and BTS results. Besides the catchability 

of the gears being different, the LLS was designed to be stratified by bottom type, whereas the 

BTS was not. There are only 2 “smooth” stations in each LLS stratum and the majority of BTS 

stations occur on “smooth” bottom. The number of LLS stations per area is over-allocated 

relative to the BTS; however, this will only affect the variance of the mean, not the mean itself.
26

REFERENCES CITED

Azarovitz TR. 1981. A brief historical review of the Woods Hole Laboratory trawl survey time

series. In Doubleday WG, Rivard D, editors. Bottom trawl surveys. Canadian Special 

Publication of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 58. p. 62-67

Bigelow HB, Schroeder WC. 1953. Fishes of the Gulf of Maine. Fish Bull, US Fish. Wildl Serv

74(53). 

Byrne CJ, Forrester J. 1991a. Relative fishing power of two types of trawl doors. 

NEFSCSAW/12/Pl. Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

Byrne CJ, Forrester J. 1991b. Relative fishing power of NOAA R/Vs Albatross IV and Delaware 

II. NEFSC SAW/12/Pl. Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

Casey JM, Myers RA. 1998. Near extinction of a larger, widely distributed fish. Science 281: 

690-692.

Collette BB, Klein-MacPhee G. 2002. Bigelow and Schroeder’s fishes of the Gulf of Maine, 3rd

ed. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington D.C.

Curtis TH, Sosebee KA. 2016. Landings Composition of the Northeast U.S. Skate, Rajidae, 

Wing Fishery and the Effectiveness of Prohibited Species Regulations. Mar Fish Rev

dx.doi.org/10.7755/MFR.77.4.1

Edwards RL. 1968. Fishery Resources of the North Atlantic area In Gilbert D, editor. The 

Future of the Fishing Industry in the United States, University of Washington 

Publications in Fisheries, New Series, Volume IV. p. 52-60

Gedamke T, Hoenig JM. 2006. Estimating mortality from mean length data in nonequilibrium 

situations, with application to the assessment of goosefish. Trans Amer Fish Soc 135: 

476-487.

Hare JA, Manderson JP, Nye JA, Alexander MA, Auster PJ, Borggaard DL, Capotondi AM, 

Damon-Randall KB, Heupel E, Mateo I, O'Brien L, Richardson DE, Stock CA, Biegel

ST. 2012. Cusk (Brosme brosme) and climate change: assessing the threat to a candidate 

marine fish species under the US Endangered Species Act. Ices J Mar Sci 69(10): 1753-

1768.

Howe AB. 1989. State of Massachusetts inshore bottom trawl survey. ASMFC Spec Rep 17:33-

38.

Johnston R, Sosebee K. 2014. History of the United States bottom trawl surveys, NAFO 

Subareas 4-7NAFO SCR Doc. 14/024.
27

Kulka DW, Mowbray FK. 1998. The status of thorny skate (Raja radiata), a non-traditional 

species in NAFO divisions 3L, 3N, 3O, and subdivision 3Ps. Canadian Stock Assessment 

Secretariat Research Document 98/131. 70 p.

Mandelman JW, Cicia AM, Ingram GW Jr, Driggers WB 3rd, Coutreb KM, Sulikowski JA. 

2013. Short-term post-release mortality of skates (family Rajidae) discarded in a western 

North Atlantic commercial otter trawl fishery. Fish Res 139:76-84

Miller TJ, Das C, Politis PJ, Miller AS, Lucey SM, Legault CM,. Brown RW, Rago PJ. 2010. 

Estimation of Albatross IV to Henry B. Bigelow calibration factors. Northeast Fish Sci 

Cent Ref Doc 10-05; 233 p.

[NEFMC] New England Fishery Management Council. 2003. Final fishery management plan for 

the Northeast Skate Complex. Newburyport, Mass., 443 p. 

[NEFMC] New England Fishery Management Council. 2010. Final Amendment 3 to the fishery 

management plan for the Northeast Skate Complex. Newburyport, Mass., 459 p. 

[NEFSC] Northeast Fisheries Science Center. 2000. 30th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment

Workshop (30th SAW) Stock Assessment Review Committee (SARC) Consensus 

Summary of Assessments. Woods Hole, MA: NOAA/NMFS/NEFC. NEFSC Ref Doc 

00-03; 477 p.

[NEFSC] Northeast Fisheries Science Center. 2006. 43rd Northeast Regional Stock Assessment

Workshop (43rd SAW) Stock Assessment Report. Woods Hole, MA:

NOAA/NMFS/NEFC. NEFSC Ref Doc 06-25; 400 p.

[NEFSC] Northeast Fisheries Science Center. 2007. 44th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment

Workshop (43rd SAW) Stock Assessment Report. Woods Hole, MA:

NOAA/NMFS/NEFC. NEFSC Ref Doc 07-10; 661 p.

[NEFSC] Northeast Fisheries Science Center Northeast Data Poor Stocks Working Group. 2009. 

The Northeast Data Poor StocksWorking Group Report, December 8-12, 2008 Meeting. 

Part A. Skate species complex, deep sea red crab, Atlantic wolffish, scup, and black sea 

bass. US Dept Commer, Northeast Fish Sci Cent Ref Doc 09-02; 496 p.

O’Brien L, McElroy DW. In prep. Northeast Fisheries Science Center Northeast Cooperative 

Research Program Pilot Longline Survey, 2014-2015: Design, Implementation, and 

Results.NOAA Tech Memo.

Rago PJ, Wigley SE, Fogarty MJ. 2005. NEFSC Bycatch estimation methodology: Allocation, 

precision, and accuracy. NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC. NEFSC Ref. Doc. 05-09.

Rounsefell, GA. 1948. Development of fishery statistics in the North Atlantic. US Dept Int. 

Special Scientific Report. No. 47; 30 p.
28

Rudders DB, Knotek RJ, Sulikowski JA, Mandleman JA, Benoit HP. 2015. Evaluating the 

condition and discard mortality of skates following capture and handling in the sea 

scallop dredge fishery. VMIS Marine Resource Report No. 2015-6.

Sissenwine, MP, Bowman EW. 1978. An analysis of some factors affecting the catchability of 

fish by bottom trawls. ICNAF Res Bull 13:81-87.

Sosebee KA, Cadrin SX. 2006. A historical perspective on the abundance and biomass of

Northeast complex stocks from NMFS and Massachusetts inshore bottom trawl surveys, 

1963-2002. US Dep Commer, Northeast Fish Sci Cent Ref Doc 06-05; 200 p.

Swain DP, Benoît HP, Daigle D, Aubry É. 2012. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the 

southern Gulf of St. Lawrence: life history, and trends from 1971 to 2010 in abundance,

distribution and potential threats. DFO Can Sci Advis Sec Res Doc 2012/032. iii + 42 p.

Wigley SE. 1996. The Lorenz curve method applied to NEFSC bottom trawl survey data. 

Northeast Fish Sci Cent Ref Doc 96-05f; 11 p. 

Wigley SE, McBride HM, McHugh NJ. 2003. Length-Weight Relationships for Fish Species 

Collected during NEFSC Research Vessel Bottom Trawl Surveys, 1992-99. NOAA 

Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-171.

Wigley, SE, Rago PJ, K.A. Sosebee, and D.L. Palka. 2007. The analytic component to 

thestandardized bycatch reporting methodology omnibus amendment: Sampling design, 

and estimation of precision and accuracy (2nd edition) NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC. Northeast 

Fisheries Science Center Reference Document 07-09.
29

Table 1. Source of landings of skates (all species) for United States from 1964-1988. “gen can” = general canvas.

CT DE ME MD MA NH NJ NY RI VA

1962 gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can

1963 gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can

1964 gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can

1965 gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can

1966 gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can

1967 gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can

1968 gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can

1969 gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can

1970 gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can

1971 gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can

1972 gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can

1973 gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can

1974 gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can

1975 gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can

1976 gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can

1977 gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can

1978 gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can

1979 gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can

1980 gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can

1981 gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can

1982 gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can gen can

1983 gen can gen can weighout gen can weighout weighout gen can gen can gen can gen can

1984 gen can gen can weighout gen can weighout weighout gen can gen can gen can gen can

1985 gen can gen can weighout gen can weighout weighout gen can gen can gen can gen can

1986 gen can gen can weighout gen can weighout weighout weighout weighout gen can gen can

1987 gen can gen can weighout gen can weighout weighout weighout weighout gen can gen can

1988 gen can gen can weighout gen can weighout weighout weighout weighout gen can gen can
30

Table 2. United States landings (mt, live weight) of skates (all species) by statistical area. US landings are from Northwest Atlantic Fisheries 

Organization (NAFO) database from 1964-1988, weighout (WO) from 1989-1993, and WO and Vessel Trip Report (VTR) bait landings sold boat to boat 

from 1994-2014. Statistical areas identified in Figure 1.

Year Unknown (State 

waters)

3(1) 4(2) 464 465 51 511 512 513 514 515 521 522 525 526 53 537 538

1964 4,034 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 4 18 1 7 1 0 0 0 0 0

1965 2,275 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 16 1 7 10 0 0 0 0 0

1966 2,694 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5 13 0 8 4 0 0 0 0 0

1967 2,629 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 8 50 0 8 3 0 0 0 0 0

1968 2,369 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 8 19 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

1969 2,980 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 14 32 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 0

1970 1,502 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 10 50 1 3 4 0 0 0 0 0

1971 816 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 31 33 0 8 1 0 1 0 0 1

1972 776 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 25 48 0 9 1 0 0 0 0 0

1973 1,092 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 25 53 0 4 1 0 0 0 1 0

1974 1,930 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 48 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0

1975 605 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 38 52 2 13 1 0 0 0 1 0

1976 614 0 0 0 0 0 4 3 51 40 1 12 1 0 0 0 0 2

1977 966 0 0 0 0 0 5 3 71 50 2 15 2 0 0 0 1 1

1978 770 0 0 0 0 0 7 12 97 70 3 53 5 0 18 0 32 7

1979 0 0 0 0 0 0 53 84 349 267 41 192 37 0 5 0 35 18

1980 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 86 376 281 31 314 12 31 37 0 30 7

1981 0 0 0 0 1 0 10 58 257 133 35 148 13 3 8 0 27 2

1982 0 0 0 0 3 0 48 94 159 188 53 189 1 2 9 0 19 0

1983 0 0 0 1 3 0 5 91 140 206 42 219 6 1 12 0 2,728 3

1984 0 0 0 0 9 0 2 59 144 209 28 215 2 1 5 0 3,304 6

1985 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 135 202 31 180 0 0 1 0 3,231 27

1986 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 108 225 9 103 0 0 8 0 3,246 9

1987 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 13 181 365 25 237 7 1 21 0 3,761 37

1988 5 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 143 979 4 358 20 5 16 0 5,213 18

1989 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 2 88 809 6 807 169 32 141 0 4,228 20

1990 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 56 1,009 6 2,548 916 305 637 3 4,817 26

1991 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 46 922 6 1,700 1,166 479 622 0 4,954 19

1992 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 72 556 13 927 1,261 366 438 0 5,415 305

1993 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 12 106 778 85 1,460 1,118 384 593 0 499 109

1994 110 0 1 3 0 0 16 103 204 321 141 2,426 1,293 127 868 2 602 289

1995 41 0 0 5 4 0 11 60 119 240 150 1,038 618 128 112 33 1,997 477

1996 24 0 0 2 11 0 14 43 96 274 140 2,885 2,650 334 1,157 15 2,915 68

1997 173 0 0 2 8 0 2 35 75 300 119 1,185 953 489 106 10 3,882 594

1998 102 0 0 4 6 0 3 26 49 868 107 1,856 1,594 750 420 12 3,778 623

1999 67 0 0 5 2 0 4 36 64 680 112 1,528 1,103 435 452 3 3,473 252

2000 79 0 0 3 3 0 4 16 75 898 50 2,128 1,310 1,004 358 109 2,646 519

2001 64 0 0 1 1 0 2 21 69 542 57 2,744 930 1,009 496 160 2,830 138

2002 266 0 0 3 2 0 5 17 72 653 48 2,630 1,156 405 234 20 2,618 64

2003 117 0 0 4 1 0 1 6 36 433 52 3,564 1,100 518 259 78 2,957 244

2004 520 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 28 173 51 4,016 1,429 1,364 255 5 2,196 262

2005 720 0 0 43 0 0 0 3 23 166 60 2,562 1,118 2,015 460 29 2,723 197

2006 723 0 0 2 1 0 0 4 9 248 68 3,737 1,307 1,778 957 7 2,832 847

2007 600 0 0 7 0 0 0 4 7 359 38 5,353 2,589 1,718 942 0 2,870 773

2008 1,286 0 0 19 0 0 1 1 14 309 39 4,347 1,621 890 919 6 3,327 573
31

Table 2, continued. United States landings (mt, live wt) of skates (all species) by statistical area. US landings are from Northwest Atlantic Fisheries 

Organization (NAFO) database from 1964-1988, weighout (WO) from 1989-1993, and WO and Vessel Trip Report (VTR) bait landings sold boat to boat 

from 1994-2014. Statistical areas identified in Figure 1.

Year Unknown 

(State 

waters)

3(1) 4(2) 464 465 51 511 512 513 514 515 521 522 525 526 53 537 538

2009 1,313 0 20 6 0 0 2 40 18 424 60 3,021 2,392 1,288 212 10 3,673 619

2010 1,311 0 0 18 0 0 0 1 37 893 86 2,856 865 912 693 5 3,554 158

2011 1,947 0 0 8 1 0 0 8 22 500 42 3,071 483 331 56 2 2,796 537

2012 1,044 0 0 4 0 0 2 1 13 213 24 2,629 760 273 62 0 3,600 248

2013 820 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 181 12 2,349 365 138 140 0 2,872 427

2014 451 4 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 52 7 3,383 304 89 92 5 3,203 360

1

Includes Subarea 3 (Grand Banks) 2

Includes Subarea 4 (Scotian Shelf excluding 464, 465)
32

Table 2, continued. United States landings (mt, live wt) of skates (all species) by statistical area. US landings are from Northwest Atlantic Fisheries 

Organization (NAFO) database from 1964-1988, weighout (WO) from 1989-1993, and WO and Vessel Trip Report (VTR) bait landings sold boat to boat 

from 1994-2014. Statistical areas identified in Figure 1.

Year 539 561 562 5(3) 611 612 613 614 615 616 621 622 625 626 63 6(4) Total Stock Total

1964 3 0 0 0 2 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4,081 4,081

1965 4 1 0 0 17 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,343 2,343

1966 1 1 0 0 3 2 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,738 2,738

1967 2 1 0 0 7 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,715 2,715

1968 2 1 0 0 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,411 2,411

1969 1 1 0 0 5 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3,045 3,045

1970 1 0 1 0 4 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,583 1,583

1971 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 900 900

1972 3 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 866 866

1973 2 0 0 0 1 9 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,191 1,191

1974 2 0 0 0 2 11 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,026 2,026

1975 3 1 0 0 6 10 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 752 752

1976 2 0 0 0 4 8 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 754 754

1977 1 0 0 0 6 5 11 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1,143 1,143

1978 2 0 0 0 8 10 30 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,130 1,130

1979 69 4 4 0 41 14 56 0 1 5 0 0 3 0 2 0 1,280 1,280

1980 171 11 6 0 34 20 89 0 0 14 0 0 0 1 1 0 1,577 1,577

1981 49 1 2 0 19 7 64 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 838 838

1982 37 2 6 0 26 4 33 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 878 878

1983 70 0 2 0 39 8 27 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3,603 3,603

1984 69 0 5 0 51 14 32 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4,156 4,156

1985 103 0 0 0 19 12 36 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3,984 3,984

1986 326 0 0 0 55 16 47 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4,159 4,159

1987 167 32 35 0 85 17 90 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5,078 5,078

1988 211 1 7 0 98 20 155 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 7,255 7,255

1989 146 20 74 0 94 28 28 0 0 15 0 0 1 0 0 0 6,710 6,716

1990 403 52 447 0 100 14 49 0 0 7 2 0 1 0 0 0 11,403 11,404

1991 333 189 645 0 100 37 23 19 4 8 56 0 0 0 1 0 11,332 11,332

1992 709 732 1,220 0 103 43 84 36 1 47 177 15 1 0 0 0 12,525 12,525

1993 5,217 455 1,134 0 411 43 120 66 8 38 258 7 1 0 1 1 12,904 12,904

1994 942 315 861 0 331 39 143 115 25 96 79 3 5 4 2 1 9,462 9,464

1995 1,923 64 88 0 311 91 164 79 61 38 98 10 2 12 0 4 7,978 7,978

1996 2,380 393 778 0 651 98 224 99 114 35 117 2 5 8 6 4 15,543 15,543

1997 2,137 87 247 0 941 279 418 166 157 80 150 8 0 18 11 0 12,630 12,630

1998 2,497 293 347 0 1,102 361 774 206 231 28 143 15 5 36 9 1 16,250 16,250

1999 2,163 278 306 0 2,452 242 888 124 171 13 99 77 49 26 21 22 15,150 15,150

2000 2,388 358 383 0 1,843 226 813 97 250 14 163 4 116 22 133 0 16,012 16,012

2001 2,462 385 306 0 1,896 305 907 79 238 12 122 46 31 32 2 0 15,888 15,888

2002 2,393 151 339 0 1,876 334 991 110 191 15 124 14 2 7 0 0 14,740 14,740

2003 2,892 435 903 0 1,508 183 623 54 101 9 99 17 13 14 1 0 16,224 16,224

2004 2,940 350 950 0 1,845 153 160 37 92 31 164 2 25 15 1 0 17,063 17,063

2005 2,734 80 313 0 1,046 112 125 37 152 64 44 26 6 25 1 0 14,885 14,885

2006 2,925 115 99 0 606 184 323 91 66 42 170 6 4 14 0 0 17,168 17,168

2007 2,481 538 298 0 801 193 289 64 246 25 65 2 10 44 3 0 20,320 20,320

2008 3,194 1,228 280 0 891 434 261 133 233 21 70 3 25 25 9 1 20,159 20,159
33

Table 2, continued. United States landings (mt, live wt) of skates (all species) by statistical area. US landings are from Northwest Atlantic Fisheries 

Organization (NAFO) database from 1964-1988, weighout (WO) from 1989-1993, and WO and Vessel Trip Report (VTR) bait landings sold boat to boat 

from 1994-2014. Statistical areas identified in Figure 1.

Year 539 561 562 5(3) 611 612 613 614 615 616 621 622 625 626 63 6(4) Total 

Stock

Total

2009 2,898 587 210 0 1,092 504 446 108 434 25 124 14 91 94 14 11 19,730 19,750

2010 3,430 150 34 0 1,150 563 667 372 494 44 123 4 26 224 14 5 18,688 18,688

2011 2,776 175 74 0 1,307 716 871 311 463 111 131 9 70 127 17 3 16,965 16,965

2012 4,245 367 71 0 796 722 1,050 249 456 40 109 12 39 101 12 1 17,144 17,144

2013 3,841 145 41 0 886 574 893 330 369 40 99 8 53 105 5 1 14,698 14,698

2014 4,117 84 18 0 1,137 698 1,175 230 292 52 85 9 5 42 10 0 15,904 15,909 3

Includes statistical areas 500, 531, 533, 534, 536, 541, 542, 543 4

Includes statistical areas 600, 610, 627, 628, 629
34

Table 3. Total commercial landings of skate (mt, live weight) in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization

(NAFO) subareas 5 and 6 by country from 1960-2014. US landings are from NAFO database from 1964-

1988, weighout (WO) from 1989-1993, and WO and Vessel Trip Report (VTR) bait landings sold boat to 

boat from 1994-2014. USSR and Others landings are from NAFO website (www.nafo.int).

Year US USSR Others Total

1964 4,081 0 2 4,083

1965 2,343 0 20 2,363

1966 2,738 0 106 2,844

1967 2,715 2,121 62 4,898

1968 2,417 3,974 92 6,483

1969 3,045 6,410 7 9,462

1970 1,583 2,544 1 4,128

1971 900 5,000 5 5,905

1972 866 7,957 0 8,823

1973 1,191 6,754 18 7,963

1974 2,026 1,623 2 3,651

1975 752 3,216 0 3,968

1976 754 412 46 1,212

1977 1,143 240 35 1,418

1978 1,130 216 7 1,353

1979 1,280 79 1 1,360

1980 1,577 0 4 1,581

1981 838 0 9 847

1982 878 0 0 878

1983 3,603 0 0 3,603

1984 4,156 0 0 4,156

1985 3,984 0 0 3,984

1986 4,159 0 94 4,253

1987 5,078 0 0 5,078

1988 7,255 0 9 7,264

1989 6,710 0 0 6,710

1990 11,403 0 0 11,403

1991 11,332 0 0 11,332

1992 12,525 0 0 12,525

1993 12,904 0 0 12,904

1994 9,463 0 0 9,463

1995 7,978 0 0 7,978

1996 15,539 0 0 15,539

1997 12,630 0 0 12,630

1998 16,250 0 0 16,250

1999 15,148 0 0 15,148

2000 16,012 0 0 16,012

2001 15,888 0 0 15,888

2002 14,740 0 0 14,740

2003 16,254 0 0 16,254

2004 17,063 0 0 17,063

2005 14,885 0 0 14,885

2006 17,168 0 0 17,168

2007 20,342 0 0 20,342

2008 20,191 0 0 20,191

2009 19,731 0 0 19,731

2010 18,683 0 0 18,683

2011 16,963 0 0 16,963

2012 17,144 0 0 17,144

2013 14,698 0 0 14,698

2014 15,904 0 0 15,904
35

Table 4. US commerical landings (mt, live wt) of skates (all species) by month from 1964-2014. Landings are from Northwest Atlantic Fisheries 

Organization (NAFO) database and general canvas from 1964-1988, weighout (WO) from 1989-1993, and WO and Vessel Trip Report (VTR) bait 

landings sold boat to boat from 1994-2014.

Year Unk. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total

1964 4,081 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4,081

1965 2,343 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,343

1966 2,738 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,738

1967 2,715 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,715

1968 2,417 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,417

1969 3,045 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3,045

1970 1,583 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,583

1971 900 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 900

1972 866 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 866

1973 1,191 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,191

1974 2,026 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,026

1975 752 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 752

1976 754 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 754

1977 1,143 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,143

1978 1,130 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,130

1979 1,280 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,280

1980 1,577 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,577

1981 838 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 838

1982 878 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 878

1983 2,886 76 83 119 86 92 67 29 37 28 33 39 28 3,603

1984 3,478 77 113 112 99 74 26 22 23 25 35 40 33 4,156

1985 3,428 61 59 124 135 25 27 16 19 22 20 29 21 3,984

1986 3,621 61 53 99 107 55 11 13 22 9 23 37 46 4,159

1987 4,001 67 79 170 164 216 89 34 45 32 36 64 81 5,078

1988 5,563 202 292 326 232 122 59 150 109 53 26 26 96 7,255

1989 4,166 240 150 227 454 293 103 142 267 222 175 173 98 6,710

1990 4,255 137 182 425 834 947 1,175 764 819 624 266 542 433 11,403

1991 4,256 464 424 461 606 420 370 658 926 515 565 959 708 11,332

1992 4,782 517 458 510 567 564 816 764 718 862 639 771 555 12,525

1993 4,860 335 266 471 742 875 823 1,006 859 712 536 864 555 12,904

1994 176 338 310 292 522 886 1,310 919 1,408 1,082 1,020 831 370 9,463

1995 1 220 341 474 606 785 967 864 869 688 807 900 457 7,978

1996 2 225 234 236 380 1,029 1,415 1,762 1,921 2,002 2,638 2,561 1,134 15,539

1997 0 550 500 643 414 1,004 1,248 1,511 1,482 1,319 1,393 1,444 1,122 12,630

1998 0 578 623 718 858 1,506 1,964 2,131 2,032 1,894 1,508 1,407 1,030 16,250

1999 0 550 447 643 799 1,380 1,816 1,700 1,830 1,962 1,393 1,552 1,076 15,148

2000 0 733 660 1,053 898 1,297 1,892 1,622 2,050 1,684 1,299 1,835 990 16,012

2001 0 880 632 1,052 1,046 1,131 1,364 1,634 1,985 1,597 1,377 1,933 1,257 15,888

2002 0 786 760 832 1,154 824 1,584 1,116 1,958 1,600 1,590 1,307 1,229 14,740
36

Table 4, continued. US commerical landings (mt, live wt) of skates (all species) by month from 1964-2014. Landings are from Northwest Atlantic 

Fisheries Organization (NAFO) database and general canvas from 1964-1988, weighout (WO) from 1989-1993, and WO and Vessel Trip Report 

(VTR) bait landings sold boat to boat from 1994-2014.

Year Unk. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total

2003 0 558 449 878 1,067 1,032 1,258 1,788 2,135 2,057 2,170 1,833 1,028 16,254

2004 0 544 1,289 1,335 1,466 1,267 1,597 2,147 1,676 1,680 1,184 1,698 1,180 17,063

2005 0 888 1,208 1,094 1,207 1,133 1,390 1,929 1,922 1,424 871 1,000 820 14,885

2006 0 952 1,065 1,519 1,628 960 1,444 1,923 2,009 1,162 1,570 1,736 1,199 17,168

2007 0 856 722 1,246 1,534 1,343 2,658 3,173 2,690 1,690 1,659 1,483 1,288 20,342

2008 0 922 1,361 1,195 1,548 1,373 2,235 2,586 2,547 2,079 1,515 1,459 1,370 20,191

2009 0 997 930 1,093 1,599 1,582 2,173 2,049 1,876 1,925 1,920 1,978 1,608 19,731

2010 0 1,264 948 1,284 1,978 2,694 3,238 1,789 1,983 913 933 980 680 18,683

2011 0 505 373 461 724 2,408 2,331 1,845 1,648 1,922 1,734 1,521 1,491 16,963

2012 0 1,002 1,033 943 1,441 2,591 2,223 1,677 1,599 1,297 1,374 1,052 911 17,144

2013 0 628 583 725 926 1,505 1,691 2,014 1,661 1,382 1,342 1,146 1,094 14,698

2014 0 763 597 622 838 1,875 1,753 1,634 1,567 1,971 1,746 1,291 1,247 15,904
37

Table 5. US commercial landings (mt, live wt) of skates (all species) by state from 1964-

2014. Landings are from Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) database and 

general canvas from 1964-1988, weighout (WO) from 1989-1993, and WO and Vessel Trip 

Report (VTR) bait landings sold boat to boat from 1994-2014.

Year CT DE ME MD MA NH NJ NY NC RI VA Unknown Total

1964 3.2 2.7 28.2 0.2 6.5 6.3 4,033.9 4,081.0

1965 16.6 38.1 0.2 6.1 6.7 2,275.3 2,343.0

1966 3.4 30.1 9.3 1.5 2,693.8 2,738.0

1967 8.0 71.0 4.8 2.3 2,628.7 2,714.8

1968 5.5 35.8 0.3 4.6 1.8 2,369.0 2,417.0

1969 8.0 51.6 0.5 3.8 0.9 2,980.3 3,045.0

1970 4.6 69.0 5.9 1.7 1,501.8 1,583.0

1971 4.6 61.9 15.0 2.9 815.6 900.0

1972 0.2 85.1 1.0 3.6 776.1 866.0

1973 1.5 80.9 10.9 5.8 1,091.9 1,191.0

1974 8.8 67.2 1.1 14.7 4.6 1,929.6 2,026.0

1975 15.0 94.8 32.4 5.0 604.8 752.0

1976 1.2 36.2 75.0 3.0 0.1 22.1 2.0 614.4 754.0

1977 3.6 62.6 81.9 2.6 0.3 19.8 4.3 2.4 965.6 1,143.0

1978 3.1 87.0 162.8 4.8 2.9 47.8 50.9 0.4 770.3 1,130.0

1979 29.3 411.5 595.1 16.6 1.5 102.9 116.8 5.9 1,279.6

1980 0.6 446.9 683.1 17.9 0.8 151.6 273.9 2.4 1,577.2

1981 2.0 340.2 324.0 2.1 1.9 84.4 83.9 838.3

1982 3.0 315.2 423.1 3.9 0.2 61.9 70.5 877.8

1983 23.0 258.8 455.0 3.3 0.9 40.6 2,821.5 3,602.9

1984 21.9 230.8 445.3 2.6 0.7 49.9 3,404.7 0.5 4,156.5

1985 2.4 144.5 409.2 2.3 2.4 50.2 3,373.0 3,984.0

1986 8.2 107.6 363.8 1.1 10.8 55.0 3,612.5 0.5 4,159.5

1987 23.4 168.4 746.2 20.6 8.9 133.1 3,977.0 0.3 5,077.9

1988 55.7 81.9 1,376.2 51.9 10.5 172.2 5,501.3 0.6 5.2 7,255.5

1989 12.2 94.1 2,032.3 18.6 18.2 114.1 4,420.0 0.7 6,710.1

1990 146.9 45.7 1.7 5,741.9 10.5 8.7 164.2 5,282.1 1.1 11,402.9

1991 113.3 16.9 5,696.0 12.4 125.4 56.9 5,310.7 0.6 11,332.2

1992 97.0 45.1 0.6 5,923.2 10.1 267.2 231.1 5,950.0 0.8 12,525.2

1993 237.9 167.0 4.1 6,118.5 9.5 376.1 168.2 5,820.2 2.3 12,903.9

1994 308.4 442.7 74.0 6,623.3 37.1 186.0 229.2 0.0 1,555.6 6.4 9,462.8

1995 394.7 349.7 49.4 3,022.3 24.6 295.4 150.8 0.0 3,673.5 17.3 7,977.8

1996 608.8 267.4 106.2 9,027.0 20.7 340.1 183.9 0.0 4,977.1 8.3 15,539.4

1997 558.7 221.3 121.3 4,031.1 17.1 802.2 427.4 9.4 6,433.7 8.1 12,630.3

1998 703.2 162.3 133.7 6,639.7 19.3 854.2 602.8 9.1 7,102.3 23.6 16,250.1

1999 899.4 218.9 90.3 5,127.4 26.9 648.2 525.2 2.6 7,506.5 102.6 15,147.9

2000 858.3 138.8 115.6 6,674.5 39.7 570.5 536.7 20.6 6,744.7 312.2 16,011.7

2001 1,026.3 142.9 94.9 6,838.0 33.9 643.4 460.1 0.1 6,585.4 63.4 15,888.4

2002 621.7 138.2 94.5 6,468.2 24.5 611.6 584.6 0.3 6,183.4 12.8 14,739.6

2003 747.7 78.9 46.2 8,194.1 14.9 449.9 453.4 0.8 6,232.2 35.8 16,253.7

2004 763.6 0.0 13.3 31.3 10,100.7 10.6 397.8 294.8 0.5 5,404.7 45.8 17,063.1

2005 598.0 10.9 10.7 8,991.3 9.4 366.3 182.6 0.5 4,684.4 30.3 14,884.5

2006 424.8 1.5 18.0 11,182.6 11.2 477.8 298.7 0.1 4,748.1 5.6 17,168.3

2007 440.7 30.0 29.2 13,854.5 5.6 543.3 364.1 0.3 5,024.3 50.5 20,342.4

2008 855.5 7.6 73.7 12,327.0 4.4 782.6 483.0 0.0 5,602.7 54.3 20,190.9

2009 692.7 0.4 83.7 11,805.2 8.6 1,082.3 615.0 5.2 5,267.4 170.7 19,731.2

2010 445.6 5.0 42.8 8,933.0 3.8 1,558.6 1,056.7 3.4 6,373.9 260.2 18,683.0

2011 539.9 5.4 89.2 7,128.3 4.5 1,643.8 959.7 6.5 6,372.2 213.8 16,963.2

2012 723.1 1.6 43.2 6,898.8 4.3 1,502.9 1,039.7 2.1 6,760.8 167.0 17,143.5

2013 661.1 0.5 38.1 5,246.9 29.2 1,372.4 861.6 0.9 6,249.4 237.4 14,697.5

2014 794.5 0.1 38.1 5,864.0 24.3 1,325.3 952.7 9.7 6,790.5 105.3 15,904.5
38

Table 6. US Commercial landings (mt, live wt) of skates (all species) by gear type from

1964-2014. US landings are from Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO)

database and general canvas from 1964-1988, weighout (WO) from 1989-1993, and WO and 

Vessel Trip Report (VTR) bait landings sold boat to boat from 1994-2014.

year longline otter trawl sink gill net other/unknown total

1964 0.2 44.0 0.0 4,036.7 4,081

1965 0.3 63.0 0.0 2,279.7 2,343

1966 0.0 43.5 0.0 2,694.5 2,738

1967 0.1 83.5 0.0 2,631.1 2,715

1968 0.0 45.4 0.0 2,371.5 2,417

1969 0.3 62.3 0.5 2,981.9 3,045

1970 0.6 78.5 0.7 1,503.2 1,583

1971 1.2 80.9 0.1 817.7 900

1972 3.7 81.9 1.3 779.1 866

1973 7.0 88.6 0.2 1,095.2 1,191

1974 10.6 78.5 5.0 1,931.8 2,026

1975 11.8 133.3 0.9 606.0 752

1976 17.1 117.9 3.5 615.6 754

1977 15.1 149.7 7.8 970.5 1,143

1978 6.1 341.0 5.9 777.0 1,130

1979 45.0 1,187.7 33.4 13.5 1,280

1980 40.5 1,481.1 40.9 14.7 1,577

1981 13.6 795.3 26.8 2.7 838

1982 38.1 809.3 17.4 13.1 878

1983 5.3 3,564.0 10.7 22.8 3,603

1984 7.0 4,120.5 10.3 18.7 4,156

1985 3.9 3,942.3 20.3 17.6 3,984

1986 7.6 4,125.5 11.5 14.8 4,159

1987 23.7 5,022.2 17.0 14.9 5,078

1988 6.2 7,206.0 24.3 19.0 7,255

1989 31.2 6,638.6 16.7 23.6 6,710

1990 37.2 11,340.4 13.0 12.3 11,403

1991 28.9 11,169.8 61.6 71.8 11,332

1992 25.9 12,242.4 228.8 28.0 12,525

1993 64.4 11,913.6 724.2 201.7 12,904

1994 233.3 7,849.6 1,047.9 332.0 9,463

1995 119.8 6,445.3 987.8 425.0 7,978

1996 90.2 14,076.3 1,207.2 165.7 15,539

1997 62.9 10,778.4 1,673.4 115.6 12,630

1998 56.2 14,098.1 1,912.3 183.4 16,250

1999 41.3 13,527.2 1,535.2 44.2 15,148

2000 42.6 14,065.4 1,827.7 75.9 16,012

2001 15.0 13,544.2 2,293.3 35.8 15,888

2002 17.1 11,246.0 3,449.1 27.3 14,740

2003 51.5 11,764.4 4,410.4 27.4 16,254

2004 41.7 12,295.0 4,292.8 433.5 17,063

2005 197.3 9,988.4 3,685.1 1,013.7 14,885

2006 22.4 11,484.3 4,836.2 825.4 17,168

2007 13.7 13,913.9 6,179.6 235.1 20,342

2008 12.4 12,999.9 6,122.5 1,055.8 20,191

2009 26.7 11,565.2 7,128.8 1,010.6 19,731

2010 10.9 8,835.7 8,831.6 1,004.8 18,683

2011 12.0 7,860.3 7,967.1 1,123.9 16,963

2012 14.0 8,425.8 7,934.4 769.3 17,144

2013 6.8 7,728.6 6,355.8 606.3 14,698

2014 6.8 7,228.2 8,497.6 171.9 15,904
39

Table 7. Landings of skate, all species, (mt, live wt) by region. Landings from unknown region were 

apportioned by using 50/50 Georges Bank (GB) and Southern New England (SNE) for non-US landings, 

80/20 SNE/ Gulf of Maine (GM) for the 1968-1980 industrial fishery, and the ratio of known regions for the 

rest of the time series.

GM GB SNE MA

1968 508 2,035 3,935 5

1969 646 3,213 5,594 9

1970 364 1,280 2,475 9

1971 233 2,512 3,158 3

1972 229 3,990 4,602 2

1973 297 3,392 4,263 12

1974 461 814 2,360 17

1975 216 1,623 2,096 33

1976 223 242 724 23

1977 325 155 913 24

1978 342 189 768 53

1979 795 282 162 121

1980 799 412 207 159

1981 493 174 78 93

1982 546 209 57 66

1983 488 239 2,802 73

1984 451 228 3,380 98

1985 371 182 3,362 69

1986 348 111 3,582 119

1987 586 333 3,965 193

1988 1,129 406 5,446 274

1989 905 1,243 4,395 166

1990 1,075 4,905 5,249 174

1991 979 4,801 5,306 246

1992 643 4,944 6,430 508

1993 982 5,143 5,826 953

1994 797 5,959 1,855 851

1995 592 2,059 4,452 875

1996 580 8,208 5,384 1,366

1997 549 3,109 6,714 2,259

1998 1,071 5,294 6,953 2,931

1999 908 4,120 5,917 4,203

2000 1,055 5,567 5,689 3,700

2001 697 5,894 5,613 3,685

2002 813 5,005 5,188 3,733

2003 538 6,841 6,228 2,647

2004 260 8,627 5,572 2,603

2005 311 6,880 5,971 1,721

2006 348 8,344 6,902 1,574

2007 428 11,800 6,317 1,797

2008 409 9,933 7,595 2,254

2009 589 8,261 7,714 3,167

2010 1,113 5,925 7,685 3,960

2011 656 4,733 6,903 4,671

2012 274 4,432 8,618 3,820

2013 210 3,365 7,561 3,561

2014 66 4,085 7,908 3,845
40

Table 8. Estimated discards (mt, live wt) of skates (all species) by gear type taken in the Gulf of Maine-Georges Bank region, 1964-2014.

Half 1 Half 2

year Line 

Trawl

Otter 

Trawl

Shrimp 

Trawl

Sink Gill 

Net

Scallop 

Dredge

Total 

Half 1

Line 

Trawl

Otter 

Trawl

Shrimp 

Trawl

Sink Gill 

Net

Scallop 

Dredge

Total 

Half 2

Grand 

Total

1964 361 36,599 0 12 6,433 43,404 402 22,820 7 7,825 31,054 74,458

1965 425 37,899 0 17 2,588 40,928 491 24,325 5 642 25,462 66,390

1966 311 39,141 0 26 730 40,208 625 22,370 7 1,562 24,565 64,772

1967 319 29,986 0 22 610 30,936 470 19,144 8 2,578 22,201 53,137

1968 224 25,468 0 37 766 26,496 414 18,033 10 1,862 20,318 46,814

1969 295 24,422 0 32 1,048 25,796 668 15,907 6 2,282 18,863 44,660

1970 329 22,184 0 22 1,346 23,881 584 15,206 7 2,163 17,960 41,841

1971 517 21,090 0 21 1,818 23,446 769 14,939 8 1,806 17,522 40,968

1972 523 18,889 0 31 1,181 20,624 711 12,399 13 1,915 15,038 35,662

1973 605 18,957 0 31 1,724 21,317 718 13,556 15 1,664 15,954 37,271

1974 664 17,180 0 58 1,106 19,007 763 11,945 24 1,521 14,253 33,260

1975 693 15,315 283 61 1,331 17,683 729 11,790 36 26 2,243 14,823 32,506

1976 495 14,747 66 99 1,705 17,111 429 12,138 0 37 3,229 15,833 32,944

1977 319 19,178 39 169 3,631 23,336 310 14,145 0 47 8,122 22,625 45,961

1978 580 22,489 0 189 4,468 27,727 446 14,380 0 66 9,135 24,028 51,754

1979 905 22,301 26 156 5,673 29,061 760 16,610 0 67 9,967 27,403 56,464

1980 833 28,089 23 194 7,452 36,590 187 18,063 0 96 8,353 26,699 63,289

1981 260 29,358 92 262 8,467 38,439 88 15,640 0 93 11,769 27,590 66,029

1982 254 26,373 117 94 6,054 32,893 96 19,492 7 83 9,578 29,258 62,151

1983 340 29,158 116 117 4,983 34,715 140 16,464 22 69 6,869 23,565 58,280

1984 282 27,426 152 125 3,458 31,444 30 13,638 53 94 5,229 19,043 50,488

1985 240 21,701 214 117 2,279 24,551 86 10,746 70 81 5,794 16,778 41,329

1986 275 18,687 256 171 4,247 23,637 72 8,855 83 87 7,322 16,419 40,056

1987 567 15,012 264 141 4,098 20,081 260 8,271 46 85 8,981 17,644 37,725

1988 539 16,809 158 163 6,472 24,142 324 8,409 46 90 11,846 20,714 44,856

1989 483 18,497 73 56 6,567 25,676 236 8,722 17 92 13,149 22,216 47,892

1990 347 22,874 223 347 7,560 31,352 237 9,910 71 73 18,614 28,905 60,256

1991 729 11,624 232 99 10,858 23,542 234 8,680 44 113 12,297 21,367 44,909

1992 1,658 8,056 255 162 9,879 20,009 893 2,848 0 56 13,873 17,670 37,679

1993 28 4,528 35 119 5,024 9,734 22 11,686 1 65 5,819 17,591 27,325

1994 26 4,759 11 130 1,877 6,802 25 10,295 1 72 1,853 12,246 19,048

1995 25 7,359 8 209 405 8,006 26 2,317 1 259 1,307 3,909 11,915

1996 21 7,506 26 279 739 8,572 21 1,743 8 65 2,789 4,625 13,197

1997 20 4,378 34 106 1,642 6,180 21 3,816 4 16 2,796 6,653 12,833

1998 17 3,197 9 50 3,399 6,672 24 6,290 1 56 4,278 10,650 17,322

1999 19 1,689 4 98 1,004 2,815 21 7,055 0 110 3,093 10,280 13,095

2000 11 4,531 6 121 2,558 7,227 22 7,650 0 740 1,386 9,798 17,025

2001 15 19,301 0 188 472 19,975 16 6,310 153 555 7,034 27,009

2002 17 11,090 1 135 944 12,187 20 5,783 200 2,040 8,043 20,230
41

Table 8, continued. Estimated discards (mt, live wt) of skates (all species) by gear type taken in the Gulf of Maine-Georges Bank region, 1964-

2014.

Half 1 Half 2

year Line 

Trawl

Otter 

Trawl

Shrimp 

Trawl

Sink Gill 

Net

Scallop 

Dredge

Total 

Half 1

Line 

Trawl

Otter 

Trawl

Shrimp 

Trawl

Sink Gill 

Net

Scallop 

Dredge

Total 

Half 1

Grand 

Total

2003 32 11,666 8 254 1,132 13,092 13 9,875 153 1,731 11,772 24,864

2004 3 11,476 4 269 317 12,069 10 13,927 0 219 1,044 15,201 27,270

2005 88 9,482 2 399 589 10,561 51 12,773 0 204 2,238 15,267 25,828

2006 54 8,082 0 173 1,059 9,369 17 9,408 1 294 2,482 12,202 21,570

2007 70 10,577 0 359 892 11,897 22 10,870 0 360 3,179 14,431 26,328

2008 69 6,662 2 139 1,549 8,420 13 8,648 0 302 2,136 11,099 19,519

2009 60 7,109 1 563 1,155 8,889 48 10,573 0 203 1,401 12,224 21,113

2010 143 7,421 0 94 291 7,950 46 9,038 0 274 1,031 10,390 18,340

2011 89 7,672 3 153 269 8,187 55 8,538 0 257 1,963 10,813 18,999

2012 29 5,170 3 114 1,140 6,456 25 7,103 0 127 2,597 9,853 16,310

2013 26 4,205 0 67 1,541 5,839 79 9,183 0 211 2,159 11,632 17,471

2014 11 5,158 45 1,236 6,449 107 6,083 262 2,476 8,928 15,377
42

Table 9. Estimated discards (mt, live wt) of skates (all species) by gear type taken in the Southern New England-Mid-Atlantic region, 1964-2014.

Half 1 Half 2

Year Line 

Trawl

Otter 

Trawl

Shrimp 

Trawl

Sink Gill 

Net

Scallop 

Dredge

Total 

Half 1

Line 

Trawl

Otter 

Trawl

Shrimp 

Trawl

Sink Gill 

Net

Scallop 

Dredge

Total 

Half 2

Grand 

Total

1964 0 16,916 0 1 16,917 0 15,172 0 463 15,635 32,552

1965 0 20,746 0 2,441 23,187 0 16,887 0 8,298 25,185 48,372

1966 0 23,680 0 4,813 28,494 0 13,499 0 4,961 18,460 46,954

1967 0 26,886 0 2,273 29,159 0 15,909 0 2,157 18,066 47,225

1968 0 30,741 0 2,905 33,646 0 15,978 0 3,028 19,006 52,652

1969 2 30,557 0 1,246 31,805 1 13,392 0 735 14,128 45,933

1970 2 21,694 0 492 22,188 0 11,596 0 579 12,175 34,363

1971 2 13,419 0 98 13,519 0 5,158 0 746 5,904 19,422

1972 2 13,272 0 819 14,094 1 5,566 0 644 6,210 20,304

1973 13 15,425 0 379 15,816 6 6,182 0 182 6,369 22,185

1974 34 19,170 0 888 20,091 15 5,810 0 1,324 7,148 27,239

1975 34 9,882 0 1,284 11,200 15 5,522 0 2,515 8,052 19,252

1976 19 7,688 0 2,381 10,089 11 7,512 0 5,085 12,608 22,697

1977 10 7,639 0 3,579 11,228 4 7,534 0 1,984 9,521 20,750

1978 248 12,605 1 4,580 17,434 215 9,103 0 5,317 14,635 32,069

1979 114 16,229 1 3,513 19,857 211 11,372 0 3,574 15,157 35,014

1980 224 11,730 1 2,448 14,403 167 11,570 0 2,750 14,487 28,890

1981 244 13,828 1 1,036 15,108 169 10,820 0 1,049 12,038 27,147

1982 146 17,088 1 1,725 18,960 101 18,388 0 2,994 21,483 40,442

1983 131 20,196 1 3,672 23,999 86 17,247 0 5,096 22,429 46,428

1984 95 21,023 1 4,879 25,998 57 17,623 1 4,674 22,354 48,353

1985 80 18,452 2 4,542 23,076 87 12,760 0 3,689 16,536 39,612

1986 132 18,225 2 3,574 21,932 99 16,662 1 4,758 21,520 43,452

1987 126 21,129 2 8,589 29,846 104 12,907 1 9,972 22,984 52,829

1988 98 18,544 3 7,319 25,964 17 12,771 1 7,231 20,020 45,984

1989 59 19,166 18 11,639 30,882 28 11,537 20 6,303 17,887 48,769

1990 43 26,989 0 9,602 36,634 37 29,098 0 4,844 33,978 70,612

1991 110 11,258 0 8,457 19,824 63 8,799 0 6,515 15,377 35,201

1992 392 5,763 107 3,800 10,062 377 16,761 51 8,950 26,139 36,202

1993 14 3,358 92 6,243 9,708 6 15,139 45 6,881 22,072 31,780

1994 7 52,689 60 4,607 57,363 3 7,561 158 3,768 11,490 68,853

1995 5 14,621 234 6,980 21,840 4 8,898 91 18,174 27,167 49,007

1996 7 8,716 135 7,636 16,494 6 28,879 60 8,469 37,413 53,908

1997 10 3,207 282 8,488 11,986 8 3,582 74 3,264 6,928 18,914

1998 8 2,906 168 5,670 8,752 6 4,198 196 4,264 8,665 17,417

1999 4 966 500 7,537 9,007 3 2,802 150 3,056 6,011 15,018

2000 3 2,252 60 6,466 8,782 4 10,525 51 3,573 14,153 22,935

2001 5 773 216 3,143 4,138 6 2,138 54 2,694 4,893 9,031

2002 4 1,078 256 5,711 7,050 5 4,284 2,519 6,006 12,814 19,863
43

Table 9, continued. Estimated discards (mt, live wt) of skates (all species) by gear type taken in the Southern New England-Mid-Atlantic region, 

1964-2014.

Half 1 Half 2

year Line 

Trawl

Otter 

Trawl

Shrimp 

Trawl

Sink Gill 

Net

Scallop 

Dredge

Total 

Half 1

Line 

Trawl

Otter 

Trawl

Shrimp 

Trawl

Sink Gill 

Net

Scallop 

Dredge

Total 

Half 1

Grand 

Total

2003 6 6,592 269 6,090 12,957 6 7,854 289 6,234 14,382 27,339

2004 6 2,848 181 5,227 8,261 6 7,809 284 3,192 11,290 19,552

2005 0 4,822 642 5,823 11,287 0 6,496 355 2,507 9,359 20,646

2006 1 2,470 680 3,720 6,872 1 2,960 68 3,092 6,121 12,993

2007 0 3,990 631 4,920 9,541 0 5,345 396 3,309 9,050 18,591

2008 49 3,729 1,093 3,261 8,132 43 4,490 442 2,403 7,378 15,511

2009 104 3,944 1,070 3,748 8,867 137 4,125 406 2,792 7,461 16,328

2010 125 2,040 963 7,364 10,493 163 2,834 1,070 3,865 7,932 18,425

2011 83 4,095 1,823 4,794 10,795 116 6,222 948 1,678 8,965 19,760

2012 17 4,771 1,543 3,075 9,405 27 6,283 697 1,551 8,559 17,964

2013 278 10,266 1,334 2,106 13,984 377 7,756 312 2,798 11,244 25,227

2014 3 7,479 1,632 6,279 15,392 4 8,400 618 3,025 12,047 27,439
44

Table 10. Estimated discards (mt, live wt) of skates (all species) by gear type, 1964-2014.

Half 1 Half 2

Year Line 

Trawl

Otter 

Trawl

Shrimp 

Trawl

Sink Gill 

Net

Scallop 

Dredge

Total 

Half 1

Line 

Trawl

Otter 

Trawl

Shrimp 

Trawl

Sink Gill 

Net

Scallop 

Dredge

Total 

Half 2

Grand 

Total

1964 361 53,514 0 12 6,434 60,321 402 37,992 0 7 8,288 46,690 107,011

1965 425 58,644 0 17 5,029 64,115 491 41,212 0 5 8,940 50,647 114,762

1966 311 62,821 0 26 5,543 68,701 625 35,869 0 7 6,524 43,025 111,726

1967 319 56,872 0 22 2,882 60,095 470 35,053 0 8 4,735 40,267 100,362

1968 224 56,209 0 37 3,672 60,142 414 34,010 0 10 4,890 39,324 99,466

1969 296 54,979 0 32 2,294 57,602 669 29,299 0 6 3,017 32,991 90,593

1970 331 43,878 0 22 1,838 46,069 584 26,802 0 7 2,742 30,135 76,204

1971 519 34,509 0 21 1,916 36,965 769 20,097 0 8 2,552 23,426 60,391

1972 525 32,161 0 31 2,000 34,718 711 17,965 0 13 2,559 21,248 55,966

1973 618 34,382 0 31 2,103 37,134 724 19,738 0 15 1,846 22,323 59,457

1974 697 36,349 0 58 1,994 39,099 778 17,754 0 24 2,845 21,401 60,499

1975 727 25,197 283 61 2,615 28,883 744 17,313 36 26 4,757 22,875 51,758

1976 514 22,435 66 99 4,086 27,200 441 19,650 0 37 8,313 28,441 55,641

1977 329 26,817 39 169 7,210 34,564 314 21,679 0 47 10,106 32,146 66,710

1978 829 35,094 0 190 9,048 45,161 661 23,484 0 66 14,452 38,662 83,823

1979 1,019 38,530 26 157 9,186 48,918 971 27,982 0 67 13,540 42,560 91,478

1980 1,056 39,819 23 195 9,900 50,993 354 29,633 0 96 11,104 41,186 92,179

1981 503 43,186 92 264 9,502 53,547 257 26,460 0 93 12,818 39,628 93,175

1982 400 43,461 117 95 7,779 51,853 197 37,880 7 84 12,572 50,740 102,593

1983 471 49,354 116 118 8,655 58,714 226 33,711 22 70 11,965 45,994 104,708

1984 378 48,449 152 126 8,337 57,442 87 31,261 53 94 9,903 41,398 98,840

1985 321 40,153 214 119 6,821 47,628 173 23,506 70 81 9,483 33,314 80,941

1986 406 36,913 256 173 7,821 45,569 171 25,517 83 88 12,080 37,938 83,508

1987 692 36,141 264 143 12,687 49,927 364 21,178 46 86 18,953 40,627 90,554

1988 638 35,353 158 166 13,791 50,106 341 21,180 46 91 19,077 40,734 90,840

1989 542 37,663 73 74 18,206 56,558 264 20,260 17 111 19,452 40,104 96,661

1990 390 49,863 223 347 17,162 67,986 273 39,008 71 73 23,458 62,883 130,869

1991 839 22,882 232 99 19,314 43,366 297 17,478 44 113 18,812 36,744 80,110

1992 2,050 13,819 255 269 13,679 30,072 1,270 19,609 0 107 22,823 43,809 73,881

1993 42 7,886 35 211 11,268 19,442 28 26,825 1 110 12,700 39,663 59,105

1994 33 57,447 11 190 6,484 64,165 28 17,856 1 230 5,621 23,735 87,900

1995 30 21,980 8 443 7,385 29,846 30 11,215 1 350 19,481 31,077 60,922

1996 28 16,222 26 414 8,376 25,066 27 30,622 8 125 11,258 42,039 67,105

1997 30 7,584 34 388 10,130 18,166 30 7,398 4 90 6,059 13,581 31,747

1998 25 6,103 9 218 9,069 15,425 30 10,488 1 252 8,543 19,314 34,739

1999 23 2,655 4 598 8,542 11,823 24 9,857 0 261 6,149 16,291 28,113

2000 14 6,783 6 181 9,024 16,009 26 18,175 0 791 4,959 23,951 39,960

2001 20 20,075 0 404 3,615 24,114 22 8,449 0 207 3,249 11,927 36,040

2002 21 12,168 1 392 6,655 19,237 25 10,067 0 2,718 8,046 20,857 40,094
45

Table 10, continued. Estimated discards (mt, live wt) of skates (all species) by gear type, 1964-2014.

Half 1 Half 2

year Line 

Trawl

Otter 

Trawl

Shrimp 

Trawl

Sink Gill 

Net

Scallop 

Dredge

Total 

Half 1

Line 

Trawl

Otter 

Trawl

Shrimp 

Trawl

Sink Gill 

Net

Scallop 

Dredge

Total 

Half 1

Grand 

Total

2003 38 18,258 8 522 7,222 26,048 18 17,728 0 442 7,965 26,154 52,203

2004 9 14,324 4 450 5,544 20,331 16 21,736 0 503 4,236 26,491 46,822

2005 88 14,304 2 1,041 6,412 21,848 51 19,269 0 559 4,746 24,626 46,473

2006 55 10,552 0 854 4,779 16,241 18 12,368 1 362 5,574 18,323 34,564

2007 70 14,566 0 990 5,812 21,438 22 16,214 0 756 6,488 23,481 44,919

2008 119 10,391 2 1,232 4,810 16,553 56 13,138 0 744 4,539 18,478 35,030

2009 164 11,054 1 1,634 4,903 17,756 185 14,698 0 609 4,193 19,685 37,441

2010 269 9,461 0 1,058 7,655 18,443 209 11,872 0 1,344 4,896 18,322 36,765

2011 172 11,768 3 1,976 5,063 18,982 171 14,760 0 1,205 3,642 19,777 38,759

2012 46 9,941 3 1,657 4,215 15,861 53 13,386 0 825 4,149 18,412 34,274

2013 304 14,471 0 1,401 3,647 19,823 457 16,939 0 523 4,957 22,875 42,698

2014 14 12,637 0 1,677 7,514 21,842 111 14,483 0 880 5,502 20,975 42,817
46

Table 11. US landings (mt, live wt) of skates by market and species from 1983-2014. Data are from Weighout (WO) and Vessel Trip Reports 

(VTR, only for bait landings sold boat to boat). Skate species include: little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), winter skate (L. ocellata), barndoor skate 

(Dipturus laevis), thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata), smooth skate (Malacoraja senta), clearnose skate (Raja eglanteria), and rosette skate (L. 

garmani). “Uncl.” = unclassified.

YEAR Uncl. Uncl. Winter Winter Little Little Barndoor Barndoor Thorny Thorny

Whole Wings Whole Wings Whole Wings Whole Wings Whole Wings

1983 3,009.2 593.7

1984 3,530.3 626.2

1985 3,449.1 535.0

1986 3,660.5 498.9

1987 4,036.7 1,041.2

1988 5,572.0 1,678.3

1989 4,163.1 2,547.0

1990 5,002.9 6,400.0

1991 5,069.2 6,262.5 0.6

1992 5,860.5 6,664.7

1993 5,526.6 7,377.4

1994 1,384.4 8,078.4

1995 3,855.8 3,985.4 136.6

1996 5,308.2 10,231.0 0.4 0.2

1997 7,054.8 5,575.5

1998 7,810.2 8,439.9

1999 8,490.8 6,655.1 2.1

2000 6,285.3 8,690.4 1035.9 0.1

2001 7,167.6 8,718.4 2.2 0.1

2002 6,132.6 8,606.8 0.1 0.1

2003 5,540.5 10,650.0 4.5 26.0 24.1 6.8

2004 1,837.4 8,450.3 6.3 2,697.4 3,010.8 8.6 0.3 0.1 95.6

2005 943.3 6,679.3 59.3 3,301.3 3,693.3 15.6 0.2 5.4 1.5 126.2

2006 1,972.2 8,543.4 79.2 2,904.6 3,269.8 6.4 2.2 0.5 137.4

2007 2,222.6 11,183.0 41.3 2,796.4 3,730.2 0.3 0.1 1.1 14.6 113.4

2008 2,009.9 10,923.0 167.2 2,682.2 4,269.6 15.8 0.5 0.8

2009 2,369.9 10,831.0 112.9 2,283.2 3,952.3 11.0 0.7 0.9

2010 1,217.6 7,813.6 286.0 4,905.6 4,330.6 22.4 0.1 0.4 18.8

2011 990.7 5,543.9 125.4 5,445.3 4,570.6 21.0 0.5

2012 961.0 6,269.0 7.6 4,598.2 5,113.7 31.7 0.2 1.4 0.2

2013 957.6 5,841.8 30.5 2,567.8 5,106.8 34.9 3.5 21.9 26.8

2014 1,096.9 2,954.7 205.8 7,110.4 4,289.3 46.7 5.1 0.7
47

Table 11, continued. US landings (mt, live wt) of skates by market and species from 1983-2014. Data are from Weighout (WO) and Vessel Trip 

Reports (VTR, only for bait landings sold boat to boat). Skate species include: little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), winter skate (L. ocellata), 

barndoor skate (Dipturus laevis), thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata), smooth skate (Malacoraja senta), clearnose skate (Raja eglanteria), and 

rosette skate (L. garmani). “Uncl.” = unclassified.

YEAR Smooth Smooth Clearnose Clearnose Rosette Rosette Total

Whole Wings Whole Wings Whole Wings Whole Wings

1983 3,009.2 593.7

1984 3,530.3 626.2

1985 3,449.1 535.0

1986 3,660.5 498.9

1987 4,036.7 1,041.2

1988 5,572.0 1,678.3

1989 4,163.1 2,547.0

1990 5,002.9 6,400.0

1991 5,069.8 6,262.5

1992 5,860.5 6,664.7

1993 5,526.6 7,377.4

1994 1,384.4 8,078.4

1995 3,992.4 3,985.4

1996 5,308.8 10,231.0

1997 7,054.8 5,575.5

1998 7,810.2 8,439.9

1999 8,492.9 6,655.1

2000 7,321.2 8,690.5

2001 7,169.8 8,718.5

2002 6,132.6 8,607.0

2003 2.0 0.2 5,577.9 10,676.0

2004 1.0 927.2 8.8 16.6 2.7 4,864.6 12,198.5

2005 0.6 1.0 35.1 16.6 5.9 4,749.8 10,134.7

2006 2.1 31.9 190.7 8.5 14.5 5,523.0 11,640.4

2007 4.3 26.7 179.6 15.1 14.8 6,207.7 14,135.7

2008 0.3 7.1 100.6 4.9 9.6 6,552.9 13,638.5

2009 2.7 6.9 157.4 1.9 0.7 6,595.9 13,135.6

2010 0.8 1.1 85.9 0.1 5,921.4 12,761.6

2011 0.5 110.9 125.0 6.9 22.5 5,812.1 11,151.0

2012 0.5 19.5 114.6 9.7 16.2 6,213.8 10,929.7

2013 8.2 67.3 22.7 7.7 6,191.7 8,505.7

2014 4.6 117.8 42.4 17.8 12.3 5,638.9 10,265.5
48

Table 12. US landings (mt, live wt) of skates by state and species from 2004-2014. Data are from weighout (WO) and Vessel Trip Reports (VTR, 

only for bait landings sold boat to boat). Skate species include: little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), winter skate (L. ocellata), barndoor skate 

(Dipturus laevis), thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata), smooth skate (Malacoraja senta), clearnose skate (Raja eglanteria), and rosette skate (L. 

garmani). “Uncl.” = unclassified.

Species 

YEAR State Uncl. Winter Little Barndoor Thorny Smooth Clearnose Rosette Total

2004 CT 728.9 0.0 34.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 763.6

DE 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

ME 12.2 1.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 13.3

MD 17.3 6.2 6.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.2 0.0 31.3

MA 6,523.2 2,468.0 99.1 0.0 83.4 926.9 0.0 0.1 10,100.7

NH 5.2 5.4 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 10.6

NJ 150.9 135.8 107.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 4.0 0.0 397.8

NY 261.0 1.8 18.7 0.0 12.0 1.3 0.0 0.0 294.8

NC 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5

RI 2,563.4 85.4 2,753.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.6 5,404.7

VA 25.1 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 20.2 0.0 45.8

Total 10,287.6 2,703.8 3,019.4 0.5 95.6 928.2 25.4 2.7 17,063.1

2005 CT 379.8 0.0 218.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 598.0

ME 10.2 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 10.9

MD 10.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 10.7

MA 5,761.0 3,093.4 21.8 1.3 113.1 0.7 0.0 0.0 8,991.3

NH 9.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 9.4

NJ 150.0 135.2 46.3 0.0 0.0 0.4 34.4 0.0 366.3

NY 130.3 2.0 16.7 4.3 12.6 0.3 0.0 16.6 182.6

NC 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5

RI 1,140.9 129.7 3,405.7 0.0 2.0 0.3 0.0 5.9 4,684.4

VA 29.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.0 30.3

Total 7,622.5 3,360.6 3,708.9 5.6 127.6 1.6 35.1 22.5 14,884.5

2006 CT 301.5 0.0 123.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 424.8

ME 1.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.5

MD 9.2 2.3 4.5 0.0 0.5 1.5 0.0 0.0 18.0

MA 8,456.9 2,380.6 207.9 0.0 136.6 0.6 0.0 0.0 11,182.6

NH 11.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 11.2

NJ 76.3 166.6 14.9 0.0 0.0 31.8 187.4 0.8 477.8

NY 256.3 19.3 10.1 2.2 0.0 0.1 0.0 10.8 298.7

NC 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1

RI 1,399.1 415.1 2,920.6 0.0 0.8 0.0 0.0 12.4 4,748.1

VA 3.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.2 0.0 5.6

Total 10,515.5 2,983.9 3,281.2 2.2 138.0 34.0 189.6 24.1 17,168.3
49

Table 12, continued. US landings (mt, live wt) of skates by state and species from 2004-2014. Data are from weighout (WO) and Vessel Trip 

Reports (VTR, only for bait landings sold boat to boat). Skate species include: little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), winter skate (L. ocellata), 

barndoor skate (Dipturus laevis), thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata), smooth skate (Malacoraja senta), clearnose skate (Raja eglanteria), and 

rosette skate (L. garmani). “Uncl.” = unclassified.

Species 

YEAR State Uncl. Winter Little Barndoor Thorny Smooth Clearnose Rosette Total

2007 CT 308.2 0.0 132.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 440.7

ME 30.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 30.0

MD 23.6 1.5 0.7 0.3 3.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 29.2

MA 11,149.8 2,413.5 158.5 0.0 114.8 18.0 0.0 0.0 13,854.5

NH 5.3 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.6

NJ 126.4 205.2 31.8 0.0 0.0 8.3 171.6 0.0 543.3

NY 293.8 36.2 7.8 1.1 9.4 0.4 3.5 11.9 364.1

NC 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3

RI 1,426.2 180.0 3,399.3 0.0 0.8 3.3 0.0 14.8 5,024.3

VA 41.8 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.5 3.2 50.5

Total 13,405.3 2,837.8 3,730.5 1.4 127.9 30.0 179.6 29.8 20,342.4

2008 CT 757.7 0.1 97.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 855.5

ME 7.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.6

MD 70.1 3.1 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 73.7

MA 9,682.4 2,157.6 480.8 0.0 0.0 6.2 0.0 0.0 12,327.0

NH 3.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.4

NJ 138.4 354.6 189.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 100.5 0.0 782.6

NY 420.7 48.0 9.0 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.0 4.9 483.0

NC 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

RI 1,797.6 285.9 3,508.8 0.0 0.0 0.8 0.0 9.5 5,602.7

VA 54.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 54.3

Total 12,932.5 2,849.4 4,285.4 0.5 0.8 7.4 100.5 14.4 20,190.9

2009 CT 584.0 0.0 108.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 692.7

ME 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4

MD 81.9 1.1 0.0 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 83.7

MA 9,474.5 1,435.0 893.8 0.0 0.0 1.8 0.0 0.0 11,805.2

NH 8.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.6

NJ 324.3 503.0 119.5 0.0 0.0 3.9 131.5 0.0 1,082.3

NY 527.5 70.8 15.6 0.0 0.9 0.4 0.0 0.0 615.0

NC 5.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.2

RI 2,051.5 386.2 2,825.6 0.0 0.0 3.4 0.0 0.7 5,267.4

VA 142.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 27.8 0.0 170.7

Total 13,220.5 2,396.2 3,963.3 0.7 0.9 9.5 159.3 0.7 19,731.2
50

Table 12, continued. US landings (mt, live wt) of skates by state and species from 2004-2014. Data are from weighout (WO) and Vessel Trip 

Reports (VTR, only for bait landings sold boat to boat). Skate species include: little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), winter skate (L. ocellata), 

barndoor skate (Dipturus laevis), thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata), smooth skate (Malacoraja senta), clearnose skate (Raja eglanteria), and 

rosette skate (L. garmani). “Uncl.” = unclassified.

Species 

YEAR State Uncl. Winter Little Barndoor Thorny Smooth Clearnose Rosette Total

2010 CT 319.6 1.1 124.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 445.6

ME 5.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.0

MD 40.8 0.1 1.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 42.8

MA 5,143.7 3,227.3 562.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 8,933.0

NH 3.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.8

NJ 246.3 1,027.0 204.0 0.0 3.9 0.1 77.4 0.0 1,558.6

NY 871.0 169.0 1.0 0.1 14.4 1.2 0.0 0.1 1,056.7

NC 3.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.4

RI 2,146.2 767.1 3,459.0 0.0 0.9 0.8 0.0 0.0 6,373.9

VA 251.5 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.5 0.0 260.2

Total 9,031.2 5,191.6 4,352.9 0.1 19.2 2.0 85.9 0.1 18,683.0

2011 CT 469.0 1.7 69.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 539.9

ME 5.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.4

MD 87.8 0.0 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 89.2

MA 2,449.2 3,471.1 1,107.0 0.0 0.0 101.1 0.0 0.0 7,128.3

NH 3.3 1.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.5

NJ 245.0 1,109.1 160.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 129.5 0.0 1,643.8

NY 723.7 202.5 0.1 0.0 0.5 10.4 0.0 22.5 959.7

NC 6.1 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 6.5

RI 2,333.7 784.7 3,253.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 6,372.2

VA 211.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.4 0.0 213.8

Total 6,534.5 5,570.7 4,591.6 0.0 0.5 111.5 131.9 22.5 16,963.2

2012 CT 574.1 0.0 149.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 723.1

ME 1.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.6

MD 35.6 7.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 43.2

MA 3,910.7 2,276.1 712.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 6,898.8

NH 4.2 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.3

NJ 84.0 1,032.9 271.3 0.0 0.0 0.2 114.5 0.0 1,502.9

NY 327.2 674.7 0.3 1.6 0.2 19.6 0.0 16.2 1,039.7

NC 2.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.1

RI 2,147.3 601.6 4,011.8 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 6,760.8

VA 143.4 12.8 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 9.8 0.0 167.0

Total 7,230.1 4,605.8 5,145.4 1.6 0.2 20.0 124.3 16.2 17,143.5
51

Table 12, continued. US landings (mt, live wt) of skates by state and species from 2004-2014. Data are from weighout (WO) and Vessel Trip 

Reports (VTR, only for bait landings sold boat to boat). Skate species include: little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), winter skate (L. ocellata), 

barndoor skate (Dipturus laevis), thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata), smooth skate (Malacoraja senta), clearnose skate (Raja eglanteria), and 

rosette skate (L. garmani). “Uncl.” = unclassified.

Species 

YEAR State Uncl. Winter Little Barndoor Thorny Smooth Clearnose Rosette Total

2013 CT 582.1 79.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 661.1

ME 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5

MD 38.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 38.1

MA 3,202.0 1,123.5 919.4 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 5,246.9

NH 29.2 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 29.2

NJ 91.0 826.5 387.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 67.2 0.0 1,372.4

NY 554.7 285.4 1.5 1.4 0.0 8.2 2.7 7.7 861.6

NC 0.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.9

RI 2,083.9 398.8 3,718.0 0.0 48.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 6,249.4

VA 217.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 20.2 0.0 237.4

Total 6,799.4 2,713.5 5,026.5 3.5 48.7 8.2 90.1 7.7 14,697.5

2014 CT 621.2 73.7 97.8 1.0 0.0 0.9 0.0 0.0 794.5

ME 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1

MD 37.0 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 38.1

MA 1,685.7 3,985.3 85.7 3.8 0.0 103.4 0.1 0.0 5,864.0

NH 0.4 0.0 23.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 24.3

NJ 53.0 856.3 373.6 0.0 0.0 0.1 42.3 0.0 1,325.3

NY 357.3 562.6 3.5 0.3 0.3 16.4 0.0 12.3 952.7

NC 7.2 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 1.1 0.0 9.7

RI 1,203.8 1,836.0 3,750.3 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 6,790.5

VA 86.0 0.1 1.2 0.0 0.0 1.3 16.6 0.0 105.2

Total 3,590.4 7,315.8 4,209.2 5.1 0.7 122.5 60.1 12.3 15,904.5
52

Table 13. Number of landed skates (all species) measured by the bait fishery, region, and season. The bait fishery are fish <= 60 cm. The lines 

indicate which years were pooled by area (Gulf of Maine [GM] and Georges Bank [GB],first 4 columns) and area combined (columns under GMGB). The third part of the table shows the final pooling chosen. 

Half 1 Half 2 GM-GB Half 1 Half 2

GB GM GB GM Half 1 Half 2 GB GM GB GM

1994 19 19 19

1995

1996 45 45 45

1997 4 1 5 4 1

1998

1999

2000 8 9 17 8 9

2001 34 1 34 1 34 1

2002 39 13 52 39 13

2003 1 3 9 2 4 11 1 3 9 2

2004 46 164 12 46 176 46 164 12

2005 17 47 102 125 64 227 17 47 102 125

2006 100 2 21 4 102 25 100 2 21 4

2007 32 232 171 39 264 210 32 232 171 39

2008 36 2 124 19 38 143 36 2 124 19

2009 9 10 35 19 35 9 10 35

2010 38 44 71 22 82 93 38 44 71 22

2011 28 65 15 4 93 19 28 65 15 4

2012 16 19 2 16 21 16 19 2

2013 42 42 42

2014 2 2 23 4 23 2 2 23

2015 2 107 9 2 116 2 107 9
53

Table 14. Number of landed skates (all species) measured by the wing fishery, region, and season. The wing fishery are fish > 60 cm. The lines 

indicate which years were pooled by area (Gulf of Maine [GM] and Georges Bank [GB], first 4 columns) and area combined (columns under GMGB). The third part of the table shows the final pooling chosen. 

Half 1 Half 2 GM-GB Half 1 Half 2

GB GM GB GM Half 1 Half 2 GB GM GB GM

1994 1 20 1 20 1 20

1995 35 3 38 35 3

1996 115 115 115

1997 38 14 6 38 20 38 14 6

1998 3 9 3 9 3 9

1999 14 1 33 15 33 14 1 33

2000 159 82 218 43 241 261 159 82 218 43

2001 20 59 395 174 79 569 20 59 395 174

2002 319 253 1,048 818 572 1,866 319 253 1,048 818

2003 338 109 1,270 268 447 1,538 338 109 1,270 268

2004 1,195 100 6,388 285 1,295 6,673 1,195 100 6,388 285

2005 1,440 48 5,639 304 1,488 5,943 1,440 48 5,639 304

2006 873 133 1,256 90 1,006 1,346 873 133 1,256 90

2007 926 46 6,987 21 972 7,008 926 46 6,987 21

2008 2,325 393 2,719 34 2,718 2,753 2,325 393 2,719 34

2009 780 72 797 17 852 814 780 72 797 17

2010 1,047 978 2,004 696 2,025 2,700 1,047 978 2,004 696

2011 506 233 2,459 201 739 2,660 506 233 2,459 201

2012 374 121 583 21 495 604 374 121 583 21

2013 113 1,635 34 113 1,669 113 1,635 34

2014 198 3 1,108 12 201 1,120 198 3 1,108 12

2015 204 1,769 76 204 1,845 204 1,769 76
54

Table 15. Number of landed skates (all species) measured by the bait fishery, region, and season. The bait fishery are fish <= 60 cm. The lines 

indicate which years were pooled by area (Southern New England [SNE] and Mid-Atlantic [MA], first 4 columns) and area combined (columns 

under SNE-MA). The third part of the table shows the final pooling chosen.

Half 1 Half 2 SNE-MA Half 1 Half 2

Year SNE MA SNE MA Half 1 Half 2 SNE MA SNE MA

1994 155 155 155 0

1995 9 301 9 301 9 301

1996 1 1 1 151 2 152 1 1 1 151

1997 294 1 11 3 295 14 294 1 11 3

1998 8 19 191 8 27 199 8 19 191 8

1999 27 40 18 58 67 76 27 40 18 58

2000 30 101 399 127 131 526 30 101 399 127

2001 195 691 195 1,164 886 1,359 195 691 195 1,164

2002 932 75 20 932 95 932 75 20

2003 540 828 111 540 939 540 828 111

2004 739 72 98 61 811 159 739 72 98 61

2005 692 14 349 772 706 1,121 692 14 349 772

2006 1,296 4 466 118 1,300 584 1,296 4 466 118

2007 615 134 1,558 730 749 2,288 615 134 1,558 730

2008 423 181 381 164 604 545 423 181 381 164

2009 533 1,030 451 448 1,563 899 533 1,030 451 448

2010 594 278 183 1,091 872 1,274 594 278 183 1,091

2011 489 120 83 194 609 277 489 120 83 194

2012 127 7 1 134 1 127 7 1

2013 1 159 160 1 159

2014 84 143 34 13 227 47 84 143 34 13

2015 219 63 260 11 282 271 219 63 260 11
55

Table 16. Number of landed skates (all species) measured by the wing fishery, region, and season. The wing fishery are fish > 60 cm. The lines 

indicate which years were pooled by area (Southern New England [SNE] and Mid-Atlantic [MA], first 4 columns) and area combined (columns 

under SNE-MA). The third part of the table shows the final pooling chosen. 

Half 1 Half 2 SNE-MA Half 1 Half 2

Year SNE MA SNE MA Half 1 Half 2 SNE MA SNE MA

1994 128 63 , 191 128 63

1995 5 322 17 327 17 5 322 17

1996 36 372 86 42 408 128 36 372 86 42

1997 133 124 124 317 257 441 133 124 124 317

1998 223 1,239 450 203 1,462 653 223 1,239 450 203

1999 241 64 242 22 305 264 241 64 242 22

2000 265 70 39 30 335 69 265 70 39 30

2001 188 314 571 1,396 502 1,967 188 314 571 1,396

2002 873 252 34 873 286 873 252 34

2003 489 1,960 268 489 2228 489 1,960 268

2004 2,250 292 607 338 2,542 945 2,250 292 607 338

2005 369 508 743 31 877 774 369 508 743 31

2006 435 128 48 104 563 152 435 128 48 104

2007 414 192 184 148 606 332 414 192 184 148

2008 402 59 387 10 461 397 402 59 387 10

2009 485 112 129 11 597 140 485 112 129 11

2010 532 162 40 615 694 655 532 162 40 615

2011 585 341 255 127 926 382 585 341 255 127

2012 431 278 126 709 126 431 278 126

2013 49 75 65 49 140 49 75 65

2014 447 131 104 43 578 147 447 131 104 43

2015 168 164 50 6 332 56 168 164 50 6
56

Table 17. Landings (Lnd), total discards (TD), dead discards (DD), and total catch (Cat) for thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) using reported 

species and 3 different pooling schemes (Region Method (Gulf of Maine-Georges Bank [GM-GB] and Southern New England-Mid-Atlantic [SNEMA]), Area Method (GM, GB, SNE, MA)), and Final Pooling (a combination of the first two methods))) to derive species proportion. All catches 

are in mt.

Reported or Observed Region Method Area Method Final Pooling

Year Lnd TD DD Cat Lnd TD DD Cat Lnd TD DD Cat Lnd TD DD Cat

1994 383 191 1,915 4,132 1,166 3,081 1,514 4,504 1,343 2,858 1,915 4,140 1,170 3,085

1995 298 93 653 1,246 368 1,021 677 1,125 404 1,080 653 1,251 371 1,024

1996 544 229 1,670 846 322 1,992 930 996 363 1,293 1,670 863 329 1,999

1997 1,610 762 936 1,275 407 1,343 831 1,679 496 1,328 936 1,286 412 1,348

1998 992 253 1,375 1,589 510 1,885 1,331 1,529 491 1,822 1,375 1,593 512 1,887

1999 570 167 381 686 213 594 636 805 247 883 502 687 214 715

2000 1,045 295 1,109 866 265 1,375 1,315 790 230 1,545 1,110 870 267 1,376

2001 1,117 284 479 2,027 491 970 767 1,216 332 1,100 940 1,114 282 1,222

2002 2,256 546 1,019 1,139 289 1,308 650 852 228 878 961 835 219 1,180

2003 1,061 267 760 2,612 674 1,433 540 1,483 392 932 549 1,564 433 982

2004 311 1,344 326 637 1,176 1,615 401 1,577 545 1,590 393 938 546 1,612 404 950

2005 372 735 192 564 897 1,604 420 1,316 252 1,324 343 595 250 1,373 368 617

2006 517 734 191 709 1,362 1,310 359 1,721 245 668 177 422 242 796 241 484

2007 566 649 172 738 865 931 259 1,124 304 655 176 480 304 737 217 522

2008 4 400 109 113 344 293 86 430 126 163 52 178 115 184 62 178

2009 5 424 120 125 135 465 127 262 103 358 98 201 90 376 106 196

2010 49 498 132 181 230 721 184 414 248 460 125 373 203 464 128 330

2011 1 519 143 144 65 461 126 191 134 373 101 236 120 396 113 233

2012 0 694 185 185 73 413 115 189 32 325 89 121 71 355 104 175

2013 111 521 155 266 120 585 164 284 84 465 128 213 123 493 142 266

2014 1 738 210 211 155 660 184 339 70 374 100 170 177 445 135 312
57

Table 18. Number of length samples by region, year, and season for the discarded component of the otter trawl skate catch (all species) from 

the Observer Program. The lines indicate which years were pooled by area (Gulf of Maine [GM] and Georges Bank [GB], first 4 columns) and 

area combined (columns under GM-GB). The third part of the table shows the final pooling chosen.

Half 1 Half 2 GM-GB Half 1 Half 2

Year GB GM GB GM Half 1 Half 2 GB GM GB GM

1994

1995 683 43 17 73 726 90 683 43 17 73

1996 626 107 626 107 626 107

1997 263 168 15 263 183 263 168 15

1998 60 60 60

1999 77 77 77

2000 307 157 346 47 464 393 307 157 346 47

2001 1,200 1 167 1,201 167 1,200 1 167

2002 752 4,837 1,252 752 6,089 752 4,837 1,252

2003 4,863 2,645 5,638 1,311 7,508 6,949 4,863 2,645 5,638 1,311

2004 4,893 890 7,241 988 5,783 8,229 4,893 890 7,241 988

2005 17,953 1,224 11,938 988 19,177 12,926 17,953 1,224 11,938 988

2006 7,444 652 7,342 678 8,096 8,020 7,444 652 7,342 678

2007 8,630 746 11,160 1,308 9,376 12,468 8,630 746 11,160 1,308

2008 10,848 1,856 9,314 344 12,704 9,658 10,848 1,856 9,314 344

2009 4,491 236 3,565 448 4,727 4,013 4,491 236 3,565 448

2010 7,028 1,056 4,823 2,071 8,084 6,894 7,028 1,056 4,823 2,071

2011 5,162 1,239 3,540 1,250 6,401 4,790 5,162 1,239 3,540 1,250

2012 2,402 1,954 1,756 594 4,356 2,350 2,402 1,954 1,756 594

2013 1,261 456 2,047 181 1,717 2,228 1,261 456 2,047 181

2014 637 241 687 348 878 1,035 637 241 687 348

2015 675 433 1,531 331 1,108 1,862 675 433 1,531 331
58

Table 19. Number of length samples by region, year, and season for the discarded component of the otter trawl skate catch (all species) from 

the Observer Program. The lines indicate which years were pooled by area (Southern New England [SNE] and Mid-Atlantic [MA], first 4 

columns) and area combined (columns under SNE-MA). The third part of the table shows the final pooling chosen.

Half 1 Half 2 SNE-MA Half 1 Half 2

Year SNE MA SNE MA Half 1 Half 2 SNE MA SNE MA

1994 244 375 619 244 375

1995 261 500 261 500 261 500

1996 19 46 201 19 247 19 46 201

1997 91 316 719 604 407 1,323 91 316 719 604

1998 1 43 1 43 1 43

1999

2000 64 292 293 629 356 922 64 292 293 629

2001 271 671 1 1,663 942 1,664 271 671 1 1,663

2002 190 45 1,656 190 1,701 190 45 1,656

2003 30 247 273 30 520 30 247 273

2004 468 817 1,102 1,661 1,285 2,763 468 817 1,102 1,661

2005 1,398 1,025 3,219 1,066 2,423 4,285 1,398 1,025 3,219 1,066

2006 451 357 115 1,791 808 1,906 451 357 115 1,791

2007 239 501 420 588 740 1,008 239 501 420 588

2008 669 811 1,015 946 1,480 1,961 669 811 1,015 946

2009 772 315 765 1,284 1,087 2,049 772 315 765 1,284

2010 413 545 1,551 1,324 958 2,875 413 545 1,551 1,324

2011 957 312 931 1,587 1,269 2,518 957 312 931 1,587

2012 815 296 255 495 1,111 750 815 296 255 495

2013 240 351 294 586 591 880 240 351 294 586

2014 430 133 414 1,021 563 1,435 430 133 414 1,021

2015 253 64 278 109 317 387 253 64 278 109
59

Table 20. Number of length samples by region, year, and season for the discarded component of the sink gill net skate catch (all species) from 

the Observer Program. The lines indicate which years were pooled by area (Gulf of Maine [GM] and Georges Bank [GB], first 4 columns) and 

area combined (columns under GM-GB). The third part of the table shows the final pooling chosen.

Half 1 Half 2 GM-GB Half 1 Half 2

Year GB GM GB GM Half 1 Half 2 GB GM GB GM

1991 1 1 2 1 1

1992 6 3 6 3 6 3

1993 1 1 1

1994 9 9 9

1995 55 2 35 55 37 55 2 35

1996 17 7 17 7 17 7

1997 25 25 25

1998 13 9 204 13 213 13 9 204

1999 52 18 52 18 52 18

2000 13 97 13 97 13 97

2001 83 20 38 83 58 83 20 38

2002 133 45 28 196 178 224 133 45 28 196

2003 295 269 289 469 564 758 295 269 289 469

2004 992 718 821 937 1,710 1,758 992 718 821 937

2005 61 642 419 360 703 779 61 642 419 360

2006 15 445 365 53 460 418 15 445 365 53

2007 167 226 1,701 248 393 1,949 167 226 1,701 248

2008 225 161 303 222 386 525 225 161 303 222

2009 134 178 118 134 296 134 178 118

2010 278 387 1,004 1,451 665 2,455 278 387 1,004 1,451

2011 217 903 942 1,125 1,120 2,067 217 903 942 1,125

2012 92 1,601 170 594 1,693 764 92 1,601 170 594

2013 75 27 614 126 102 740 75 27 614 126

2014 4 84 477 265 88 742 4 84 477 265

2015 102 162 1,149 155 264 1,304 102 162 1,149 155
60

Table 21. Number of length samples by region, year, and season for the discarded component of the sink gill net skate catch (all species) from 

the Observer Program. The lines indicate which years were pooled by area (Southern New England [SNE] and Mid-Atlantic [MA], first 4 

columns) and area combined (columns under SNE-MA). The third part of the table shows the final pooling chosen.

Half 1 Half 2 SNE-MA Half 1 Half 2

Year SNE MA SNE MA Half 1 Half 2 SNE MA SNE MA

1994 23 32 , 55 23 32

1995 2 696 12 698 12 2 696 12

1996 346 346 , 346

1997 4 184 25 21 188 46 4 184 25 21

1998 9 2 22 6 11 28 9 2 22 6

1999 62 16 10 78 10 62 16 10

2000 51 37 7 25 88 32 51 37 7 25

2001 72 70 4 72 74 72 70 4

2002 320 50 164 370 164 320 50 164

2003 226 20 1,309 3 246 1,312 226 20 1,309 3

2004 614 116 514 614 630 614 116 514

2005 427 318 757 5 745 762 427 318 757 5

2006 56 5 7 195 61 202 56 5 7 195

2007 167 52 38 9 219 47 167 52 38 9

2008 580 158 140 738 140 580 158 140

2009 464 404 267 27 868 294 464 404 267 27

2010 2,091 73 211 351 2,164 562 2,091 73 211 351

2011 951 122 711 107 1,073 818 951 122 711 107

2012 916 194 31 1,110 31 916 194 31

2013 104 235 8 104 243 104 235 8

2014 166 223 73 3 389 76 166 223 73 3

2015 665 250 19 915 19 665 250 19
61

Table 22. Number of length samples by region, year, and season for the discarded component of the scallop dredge skate catch (all species) 

from the Observer Program. The lines indicate which years were pooled by area (Gulf of Maine [GM] and Georges Bank [GB], first 4 columns) 

and area combined (columns under GM-GB). The third part of the table shows the final pooling chosen.

Half 1 Half 2 GM-GB Half 1 Half 2

Year GB GM GB GM Half 1 Half 2 GB GM GB GM

1994 332 332 332

1995

1996 45 45 45

1997 9 9 9

1998 1499 1,499 1499

1999 110 768 110 768 110 768

2000 46 4 46 4 46 4

2001

2002 756 6 762 756 6

2003 12 80 12 80 12 80

2004 652 2 1,123 244 654 1,367 652 2 1,123 244

2005 1,016 26 2,124 1,042 2,124 1,016 26 2,124

2006 440 2,949 440 2,949 440 2,949

2007 1,714 3,514 1,714 3,514 1,714 3,514

2008 1,799 2,604 6 1,799 2,610 1,799 2,604 6

2009 845 799 845 799 845 799

2010 374 2,032 58 374 2,090 374 2,032 58

2011 361 1,049 361 1,049 361 1,049

2012 1,885 4,751 1,885 4,751 1,885 4,751

2013 2,183 33 1,707 24 2,216 1,731 2,183 33 1,707 24

2014 1,135 15 1,264 8 1,150 1,272 1,135 15 1,264 8

2015 2,300 10 171 2 2,310 173 2,300 10 171 2
62

Table 23. Number of length samples by region, year, and season for the discarded component of the scallop dredge skate catch (all species) 

from the Observer Program. The lines indicate which years were pooled by area (Southern New England [SNE] and Mid-Atlantic [MA], first 4 

columns) and area combined (columns under SNE-MA). The third part of the table shows the final pooling chosen.

Half 1 Half 2 SNE-MA Half 1 Half 2

SNE MA SNE MA Half 1 Half 2 SNE MA SNE MA

1994 354 354 354

1995

1996 379 379 379

1997 52 179 52 179 52 179

1998

1999

2000 86 86 86

2001 57 57 57

2002 2,125 2,125 2,125

2003 1,525 987 1,525 987 1,525 987

2004 6,762 19 7,527 6,762 7,546 6,762 19 7,527

2005 104 2,640 102 1,940 2,744 2,042 104 2,640 102 1,940

2006 3,844 3,844 3,844

2007 113 2,706 3,819 2,819 3,819 113 2,706 3,819

2008 23 8,422 115 4,957 8,445 5,072 23 8,422 115 4,957

2009 7,135 26 2,190 7,135 2,216 7,135 26 2,190

2010 56 4,869 3,517 4,925 3,517 56 4,869 3,517

2011 13 4,121 1,454 4,134 1,454 13 4,121 1,454

2012 3,574 1,468 3,574 1,468 3,574 1,468

2013 1,105 62 1,324 1,105 1,386 1,105 62 1,324

2014 2,157 83 3,749 2,157 3,832 2,157 83 3,749

2015 153 2,554 92 2,306 2,707 2,398 153 2,554 92 2,306
63

Table 24. Number of length samples by year and season for the discarded component of the shrimp trawl and longline (LL) skate catch (all 

species)from the Observer Program in the Gulf of Maine (GM) and Georges Bank (GB) area.

shrimp trawl (GM-GB) LL - both areas

1 2

1989 4

1990

1991

1992

1993 1 2

1994 30 1994

1995 3 1995

1996 7 1996

1997 1997

1998 4 1998

1999 1999

2000 2000

2001 2001

2002 2002

2003 2003 22

2004 181 2004 41 56

2005 15 2005 74 13

2006 29 2006 74 36

2007 2007 3 52

2008 2008 427 124

2009 23 2009 11 63

2010 2010 451 310

2011 2011 130 17

2012 2012 44 6

2013 2013 10 26

2014 2014 14 16
64

Table 25. Total landings (mt, live wt) of skates by species from 1968-2015, using the final 

pooling method. Skate species include: little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), winter skate (L. 

ocellata), barndoor skate (Dipturus laevis), thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata), smooth skate 

(Malacoraja senta), clearnose skate (Raja eglanteria), and rosette skate (L. garmani).

Year Winter Little Barndoor Thorny Smooth Clearnose Rosette Total

1968 2,689 2,793 315 596 81 1 8 6,483

1969 3,905 5,071 69 177 4 234 2 9,462

1970 1,363 2,312 66 361 26 0 0 4,128

1971 1,693 3,307 69 768 68 0 1 5,905

1972 3,380 3,638 119 1,529 154 0 2 8,823

1973 3,512 2,611 11 1,555 254 16 5 7,963

1974 1,594 1,662 6 344 35 10 1 3,651

1975 1,735 1,356 3 800 63 9 2 3,968

1976 336 657 2 169 21 23 3 1,212

1977 328 834 0 156 14 72 14 1,418

1978 540 555 0 159 29 66 3 1,353

1979 401 516 0 402 44 57 3 1,423

1980 595 391 0 520 94 38 12 1,650

1981 280 172 0 310 32 50 3 847

1982 268 246 0 342 18 3 0 878

1983 1,319 1,853 0 364 50 17 0 3,603

1984 1,453 2,336 0 331 11 14 12 4,156

1985 2,120 1,506 0 339 14 5 0 3,984

1986 2,793 1,084 0 241 20 113 2 4,253

1987 2,360 2,185 1 463 28 33 8 5,078

1988 3,603 2,752 1 757 108 20 24 7,264

1989 2,133 3,983 4 511 60 17 2 6,710

1990 5,820 4,279 7 1,112 120 61 3 11,403

1991 4,790 5,045 21 1,205 127 141 4 11,332

1992 5,465 6,163 43 635 62 120 38 12,525

1993 4,215 7,077 76 1,294 168 58 17 12,904

1994 6,212 952 207 1,915 2 173 2 9,463

1995 3,971 3,104 79 653 1 164 6 7,978

1996 9,516 2,889 324 1,670 0 1,135 6 15,539

1997 5,578 4,382 313 936 10 1,406 6 12,630

1998 7,852 6,151 127 1,375 11 717 16 16,250

1999 7,032 6,508 327 501 6 761 12 15,148

2000 7,423 5,621 456 1,109 224 1,157 22 16,012

2001 6,769 4,869 1,362 940 29 1,915 5 15,888

2002 7,347 4,012 1,084 961 24 1,287 25 14,740

2003 9,253 4,413 903 549 11 1,115 10 16,254

2004 10,983 3,414 909 546 7 1,185 20 17,063

2005 8,174 3,931 1,930 250 11 579 9 14,885

2006 9,021 3,838 3,283 243 24 753 5 17,168

2007 12,822 4,535 1,971 304 18 637 54 20,342

2008 11,973 4,569 2,821 115 22 666 24 20,191

2009 12,767 5,191 672 90 19 883 108 19,731

2010 12,370 4,409 1,030 203 48 617 8 18,683

2011 10,621 4,580 1,067 120 22 542 12 16,963

2012 9,227 4,563 2,470 71 3 802 7 17,144

2013 8,119 3,913 1,683 123 12 829 18 14,698

2014 8,715 3,981 2,516 177 3 500 13 15,904
65

Table 26. Total discards (mt, live wt) of skates by species from 1968-2015, using the final 

pooling method. Skate species include: little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), winter skate (L. 

ocellata), barndoor skate (Dipturus laevis), thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata), smooth skate 

(Malacoraja senta), clearnose skate (Raja eglanteria), and rosette skate (L. garmani).

Year Winter Little Barndoor Thorny Smooth Clearnose Rosette Total

1968 35 ,519 39,452 4,359 18,050 1,501 474 112 99,466

1969 31,764 40,884 1,311 14,863 901 860 10 90,593

1970 24,856 32,087 887 16,542 948 851 32 76,204

1971 17,029 22,455 674 17,772 1,867 584 9 60,391

1972 20,891 17,881 622 14,427 1,416 701 29 55,966

1973 19,983 21,121 85 15,920 1,975 340 33 59,457

1974 22,534 19,640 109 14,169 2,768 1,200 79 60,499

1975 15,499 20,744 43 14,108 745 569 50 51,758

1976 16,244 22,877 175 11,607 1,235 2,640 861 55,641

1977 27,322 21,545 3 13,657 1,242 2,650 293 66,710

1978 38,837 23,466 34 11,803 1,871 7,295 517 83,823

1979 41,242 31,612 21 13,001 1,417 3,999 187 91,478

1980 48,389 22,849 3 15,809 2,563 1,965 601 92,179

1981 52,939 21,826 3 14,987 1,331 1,937 152 93,175

1982 52,829 38,355 9 10,350 582 418 49 102,593

1983 56,193 32,992 1 10,282 1,098 4,094 46 104,708

1984 50,390 34,422 7 9,398 423 3,152 1,047 98,840

1985 43,767 25,501 4 9,883 488 1,278 20 80,941

1986 51,644 15,478 24 7,352 665 8,288 58 83,508

1987 45,440 30,851 20 6,101 429 6,177 1,536 90,554

1988 51,125 29,173 18 5,344 803 805 3,571 90,840

1989 47,770 39,318 32 5,146 541 3,492 364 96,661

1990 66,332 45,412 73 8,802 874 8,657 719 130,869

1991 37,598 25,401 59 6,645 642 9,604 161 80,110

1992 33,314 27,386 255 3,752 369 6,307 2,498 73,881

1993 17,268 33,266 375 5,495 603 1,453 644 59,105

1994 32,857 39,388 1,098 4,140 713 9,679 41 87,914

1995 17,865 36,638 223 1,251 468 4,113 375 60,932

1996 17,044 45,829 64 863 340 2,782 218 67,141

1997 9,250 19,571 578 1,286 429 616 57 31,786

1998 10,533 20,604 472 1,593 443 969 134 34,750

1999 7,498 17,685 1,034 687 252 959 43 28,158

2000 9,521 24,748 1,372 870 363 2,890 202 39,967

2001 14,554 17,948 1,351 1,114 252 748 74 36,041

2002 14,321 20,508 1,475 835 399 2,506 50 40,095

2003 15,699 32,173 1,101 1,564 569 1,079 27 52,212

2004 19,773 22,075 1,206 1,612 1,016 1,082 64 46,827

2005 16,015 22,789 2,885 1,373 1,365 1,847 204 46,477

2006 12,478 15,986 3,084 796 909 1,263 49 34,565

2007 15,712 21,085 3,272 737 476 3,583 56 44,921

2008 13,801 14,752 2,910 184 469 2,821 96 35,033

2009 16,847 14,483 2,256 376 402 2,996 82 37,442

2010 17,619 13,659 2,765 464 320 1,906 34 36,766

2011 19,049 11,689 4,625 396 625 2,353 28 38,764

2012 14,901 11,372 4,008 355 658 2,808 177 34,278

2013 18,449 16,065 4,010 493 449 3,105 128 42,700

2014 17,666 17,422 5,398 445 362 1,403 122 42,818
66

Table 27. Dead discards (mt, live wt) of skates by species from 1968-2015, using the final 

pooling method. Skate species include: little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), winter skate (L. 

ocellata), barndoor skate (Dipturus laevis), thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata), smooth skate 

(Malacoraja senta), clearnose skate (Raja eglanteria), and rosette skate (L. garmani).

Year Winter Little Barndoor Thorny Smooth Clearnose Rosette Total

1968 4,422 9,417 2,179 4,417 891 237 56 21,620

1969 3,563 9,574 656 3,690 536 430 5 18,454

1970 2,918 7,405 443 4,144 563 426 16 15,914

1971 1,990 5,373 337 4,617 1,101 292 5 13,715

1972 2,379 4,373 311 3,846 829 350 14 12,102

1973 2,323 4,958 42 4,218 1,160 170 17 12,888

1974 2,526 4,814 55 3,691 1,632 600 39 13,357

1975 1,823 5,659 21 3,976 435 285 25 12,225

1976 2,267 6,502 87 3,152 722 1,320 431 14,481

1977 4,306 6,262 1 3,807 728 1,325 146 16,575

1978 6,028 6,942 17 3,359 1,098 3,648 259 21,350

1979 6,674 8,975 10 3,791 822 1,999 93 22,366

1980 6,937 6,648 1 4,797 1,466 982 301 21,131

1981 8,137 6,113 2 4,493 764 969 76 20,552

1982 7,695 10,405 5 2,836 339 209 25 21,514

1983 7,493 9,165 1 2,854 639 2,047 23 22,221

1984 6,830 9,137 4 2,538 248 1,576 524 20,856

1985 5,941 7,430 2 2,622 287 639 10 16,931

1986 7,663 4,284 12 1,973 388 4,144 29 18,493

1987 7,866 9,930 10 1,686 250 3,089 768 23,599

1988 9,247 9,412 9 1,655 458 403 1,785 22,969

1989 9,811 12,047 16 1,621 307 1,746 182 25,729

1990 13,073 11,860 36 2,747 501 4,329 359 32,904

1991 8,571 8,273 29 2,348 358 4,802 80 24,462

1992 8,931 9,054 127 1,470 196 3,154 1,249 24,182

1993 3,452 10,812 188 1,817 339 727 322 17,657

1994 3,692 10,936 549 1,170 417 4,839 20 21,623

1995 3,292 13,383 112 371 273 2,056 187 19,674

1996 2,569 14,082 32 329 188 1,391 109 18,700

1997 1,715 7,451 289 412 239 308 28 10,442

1998 1,993 7,834 236 512 243 485 67 11,369

1999 1,584 6,776 517 214 143 480 22 9,735

2000 1,675 8,250 686 267 210 1445 101 12,634

2001 1,659 5,471 675 282 146 374 37 8,645

2002 2,813 7,816 738 219 231 1,253 25 13,095

2003 1,905 10,680 551 433 324 539 14 14,446

2004 2,618 6,605 603 404 597 541 32 11,399

2005 2,397 7,036 1,442 368 800 923 102 13,068

2006 2,031 5,292 1,542 241 528 631 25 10,291

2007 2,435 7,103 1,636 217 273 1,791 28 13,483

2008 1,994 5,139 1,455 62 260 1,411 48 10,368

2009 2,746 4,764 1,128 106 232 1,498 41 10,516

2010 3,003 5,333 1,382 128 184 953 17 10,999

2011 3,158 3,991 2,312 113 356 1,177 14 11,121

2012 2,466 4,013 2,004 104 374 1,404 88 10,454

2013 3,013 4,847 2,005 142 253 1,553 64 11,878

2014 3,104 6,110 2,699 135 204 701 61 13,014
67

Table 28. Total catch (mt, live wt, landings + dead discards) of skates by species from 1968-

2015, using the final pooling method. Skate species include: little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), 

winter skate (L. ocellata), barndoor skate (Dipturus laevis), thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata), 

smooth skate (Malacoraja senta), clearnose skate (Raja eglanteria), and rosette skate (L. 

garmani).

Year Winter Little Barndoor Thorny Smooth Clearnose Rosette Total

1968 7,111 12,210 2,495 5,013 972 238 64 28,103

1969 7,469 14,644 725 3,867 540 664 7 27,916

1970 4,280 9,717 510 4,505 588 426 16 20,042

1971 3,682 8,681 406 5,385 1,169 292 5 19,620

1972 5,759 8,011 430 5,375 983 351 16 20,925

1973 5,835 7,569 53 5,773 1,414 185 22 20,851

1974 4,120 6,476 61 4,035 1,667 610 40 17,008

1975 3,558 7,015 25 4,776 499 294 27 16,193

1976 2,603 7,159 89 3,321 744 1,343 434 15,693

1977 4,634 7,096 1 3,963 742 1,397 160 17,993

1978 6,568 7,497 17 3,518 1,127 3,713 262 22,703

1979 7,075 9,492 11 4,193 866 2,056 97 23,788

1980 7,532 7,038 1 5,316 1,560 1,021 313 22,781

1981 8,417 6,285 2 4,803 796 1,019 79 21,400

1982 7,964 10,651 5 3,178 357 213 25 22,392

1983 8,812 11,018 1 3,217 689 2,064 23 25,824

1984 8,283 11,473 4 2,869 259 1,590 536 25,013

1985 8,061 8,936 2 2,961 301 644 10 20,915

1986 10,456 5,368 12 2,215 408 4,257 31 22,747

1987 10,226 12,115 11 2,149 279 3,122 776 28,677

1988 12,850 12,163 11 2,412 566 423 1,810 30,234

1989 11,944 16,030 20 2,132 367 1,763 183 32,439

1990 18,893 16,139 43 3,859 621 4,390 363 44,307

1991 13,360 13,317 51 3,553 486 4,943 84 35,794

1992 14,396 15,218 170 2,105 258 3,273 1,287 36,708

1993 7,667 17,889 263 3,111 507 785 339 30,561

1994 9,904 11,888 756 3,084 418 5,012 23 31,085

1995 7,264 16,486 191 1,024 274 2,221 193 27,652

1996 12,085 16,971 356 1,999 188 2,526 115 34,240

1997 7,293 11,832 602 1,348 250 1,714 34 23,073

1998 9,845 13,985 364 1,887 254 1,202 83 27,619

1999 8,616 13,284 844 715 150 1,240 34 24,883

2000 9,099 13,870 1,142 1,376 434 2,602 123 28,646

2001 8,428 10,340 2,037 1,222 175 2,289 42 24,533

2002 10,161 11,828 1,821 1,180 254 2,540 50 27,835

2003 11,159 15,093 1,454 982 335 1,655 23 30,700

2004 13,600 10,019 1,512 950 603 1,726 52 28,463

2005 10,571 10,968 3,373 617 810 1,503 111 27,952

2006 11,052 9,131 4,825 484 553 1,384 30 27,459

2007 15,257 11,638 3,607 522 291 2,428 82 33,825

2008 13,967 9,708 4,276 178 281 2,077 72 30,559

2009 15,513 9,955 1,800 196 251 2,381 149 30,247

2010 15,373 9,742 2,413 330 231 1,569 25 29,682

2011 13,779 8,571 3,379 233 378 1,719 26 28,084

2012 11,694 8,576 4,474 175 377 2,206 96 27,597

2013 11,132 8,761 3,687 266 265 2,382 82 26,575

2014 11,818 10,091 5,215 312 208 1,201 73 28,919
68

Table 29. Landings of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) and total and dead discards of thorny skate by gear type (ll = longline; ot = otter 

trawl + shrimp trawl; sgn = sink gill net; sd = scallop dredge).

Total discards Dead Discards

Landings ll ot sgn sd ll ot sgn sd

Total 

Catch

1968 595.7 200.4 17,065.7 42.4 741.5 100.2 3,925.1 21.2 370.7 5,013.0

1969 177.3 226.8 13,856.6 30.2 748.9 113.4 3,187.0 15.1 374.4 3,867.3

1970 360.7 283.4 15,283.6 26.3 948.8 141.7 3,515.2 13.2 474.4 4,505.2

1971 767.8 516.2 15,811.5 24.7 1,419.9 258.1 3,636.6 12.4 710.0 5,384.8

1972 1,529.4 505.5 12,473.8 35.7 1,412.5 252.7 2,869.0 17.8 706.2 5,375.2

1973 1,555.2 567.8 13,860.8 40.1 1,451.2 283.9 3,188.0 20.0 725.6 5,772.8

1974 344.0 554.1 12,566.7 66.6 981.3 277.0 2,890.3 33.3 490.6 4,035.3

1975 800.1 592.8 11,398.3 80.5 2,036.0 296.4 2,621.6 40.2 1,018.0 4,776.4

1976 169.5 305.6 9,821.2 112.6 1,367.9 152.8 2,258.9 56.3 684.0 3,321.4

1977 155.7 221.8 11,190.3 190.0 2,054.9 110.9 2,573.8 95.0 1,027.4 3,962.9

1978 159.0 190.3 9,416.1 205.3 1,991.2 95.2 2,165.7 102.7 995.6 3,518.1

1979 401.7 280.3 10,033.7 143.7 2,543.0 140.2 2,307.8 71.9 1,271.5 4,193.0

1980 519.6 173.4 11,511.2 184.8 3,939.8 86.7 2,647.6 92.4 1,969.9 5,316.1

1981 310.3 120.7 11,114.2 270.5 3,481.8 60.4 2,556.3 135.2 1,740.9 4,803.1

1982 341.7 68.1 8,664.0 112.6 1,505.6 34.1 1,992.7 56.3 752.8 3,177.6

1983 363.7 36.1 8,471.7 122.2 1,651.9 18.0 1,948.5 61.1 825.9 3,217.3

1984 330.8 24.7 8,005.4 136.5 1,231.9 12.3 1,841.2 68.2 616.0 2,868.6

1985 338.7 28.8 8,591.6 145.0 1,117.7 14.4 1,976.1 72.5 558.9 2,960.6

1986 241.2 33.5 6,306.4 174.5 837.9 16.8 1,450.5 87.3 419.0 2,214.7

1987 462.9 34.0 5,054.6 159.8 853.1 17.0 1,162.6 79.9 426.5 2,148.9

1988 756.9 37.3 3,768.4 141.4 1,397.3 18.6 866.7 70.7 698.7 2,411.6

1989 510.8 46.0 3,526.4 62.5 1,511.0 23.0 811.1 31.3 755.5 2,131.7

1990 1,112.2 65.6 6,127.9 299.6 2,309.3 32.8 1,409.4 149.8 1,154.7 3,858.9

1991 1,204.6 240.0 3,609.0 140.1 2,656.3 120.0 830.1 70.1 1,328.1 3,552.9

1992 634.8 173.0 1,502.6 138.3 1,938.4 86.5 345.6 69.1 969.2 2,105.3

1993 1,293.6 11.6 3,445.2 81.1 1,957.0 5.8 792.4 40.5 978.5 3,110.9

1994 1,914.8 18.6 3,334.4 31.0 755.9 9.3 766.9 15.5 377.9 3,084.5

1995 652.6 13.8 942.8 52.6 241.9 6.9 216.8 26.3 120.9 1,023.6

1996 1,670.0 18.1 377.7 20.4 446.7 9.0 86.9 10.2 223.3 1,999.4

1997 936.1 16.0 855.7 7.1 406.9 8.0 196.8 3.5 203.4 1,347.8

1998 1,375.5 9.4 1,054.5 8.7 520.6 4.7 242.5 4.3 260.3 1,887.3
69

Table 29, continued. Landings of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) and total and dead discards of thorny skate by gear type (ll = longline; 

ot = otter trawl + shrimp trawl; sgn = sink gill net; sd = scallop dredge).

Total discards Dead Discards

Total 

Catch

Landings ll ot sgn sd ll ot sgn sd

1999 501.5 4.3 481.3 12.0 189.5 2.2 110.7 6.0 94.8 715.2

2000 1,109.5 6.6 622.3 83.7 156.9 3.3 143.1 41.9 78.4 1,376.2

2001 940.2 2.0 1,020.6 32.0 59.6 1.0 234.7 16.0 29.8 1,221.7

2002 961.3 2.6 735.0 32.4 65.2 1.3 169.0 16.2 32.6 1,180.4

2003 549.1 7.7 1,292.3 44.3 219.3 3.9 297.2 22.2 109.6 982.0

2004 546.2 1.6 1,488.9 53.0 68.2 0.8 342.4 26.5 34.1 950.0

2005 249.5 12.2 1,180.9 53.4 126.8 6.1 271.6 26.7 63.4 617.3

2006 243.2 5.0 581.1 32.4 177.9 2.5 133.6 16.2 88.9 484.5

2007 304.4 5.1 559.9 34.4 137.2 2.5 128.8 17.2 68.6 521.5

2008 115.4 2.1 109.3 11.4 60.9 1.1 25.1 5.7 30.5 177.8

2009 89.9 2.6 301.5 17.3 54.2 1.3 69.4 8.7 27.1 196.3

2010 202.6 7.4 387.9 23.2 46.1 3.7 89.2 11.6 23.0 330.2

2011 120.0 5.1 315.7 17.4 57.6 2.5 72.6 8.7 28.8 232.7

2012 70.7 2.1 271.2 14.6 67.4 1.0 62.4 7.3 33.7 175.1

2013 123.4 4.1 385.9 15.4 87.9 2.0 88.7 7.7 44.0 265.8

2014 176.7 2.8 322.8 14.2 105.1 1.4 74.2 7.1 52.6 312.0
70

Table 30. Abundance and biomass from Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) spring surveys for thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) for the 

Gulf of Maine to Southern New England region (offshore strata 1-30, 34-40). The mean index (mn), 95% confidence intervals (L [lower], U

[upper]), individual fish weight (ind wt [kg]), minimum, mean (mn), and maximum length, 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles of length, number of 

positive tows (pos), and number of fish (fish) caught, area sampled, mean bottom temperature (°C) and depth (m), mean day of year, and total 

number of tows are presented for 1968-2015.

weight/tow (kg) number/tow ind length (cm)

mn L U mn L U wt min 5 50 mn 95 max pos fish area temp depth day tows

1968 2.694 1.704 3.683 1.514 0.973 2.054 1.779 12 16 42 46.2 87 105 54 236 51,218 5.0 125.2 91 180

1969 4.620 3.238 6.002 1.705 1.177 2.232 2.711 12 13 48 51.5 98 109 64 294 51,218 5.5 125.3 84 190

1970 4.269 3.280 5.257 2.016 1.496 2.537 2.117 12 16 41 48.1 95 110 82 361 51,218 6.0 129.7 93 199

1971 3.801 2.577 5.025 2.007 1.498 2.517 1.894 12 15 44 47.8 95 116 81 424 51,218 6.0 124.7 89 203

1972 5.052 3.803 6.301 2.244 1.790 2.697 2.252 12 16 47 50.8 94 110 88 440 51,218 6.4 127.1 92 206

1973 6.731 4.946 8.515 3.609 2.672 4.546 1.865 12 16 44 48.1 91 108 74 571 51,218 6.7 124.9 102 219

1974 3.797 2.951 4.643 2.462 1.942 2.981 1.542 9 14 43 45.8 88 106 78 369 51,218 7.1 127.9 103 177

1975 3.189 2.222 4.157 1.360 0.990 1.731 2.344 10 15 46 50.4 95 102 62 192 49,391 6.9 122.5 103 188

1976 2.919 2.051 3.787 1.690 1.294 2.086 1.727 13 15 42 47.1 90 106 77 337 51,218 7.2 128.0 94 200

1977 1.636 1.182 2.091 0.945 0.674 1.217 1.731 12 15 42 48.1 89 111 72 210 51,218 5.9 123.6 116 207

1978 1.197 0.756 1.638 0.793 0.569 1.016 1.510 10 15 49 46.3 83 97 68 185 51,218 5.2 122.7 115 220

1979 1.120 0.769 1.471 0.620 0.447 0.792 1.807 12 17 50 50.0 83 102 69 168 51,218 5.9 122.8 110 281

1980 2.132 1.323 2.942 1.299 0.857 1.740 1.642 11 13 38 44.2 92 100 58 240 51,218 6.1 124.6 110 239

1981 2.694 2.053 3.336 1.499 1.097 1.900 1.798 9 13 48 48.7 87 100 57 244 51,046 5.8 125.5 119 179

1982 2.367 1.697 3.036 1.155 0.885 1.426 2.049 10 17 53 52.4 85 97 60 216 51,218 5.5 129.3 110 192

1983 2.178 1.421 2.934 0.985 0.740 1.229 2.212 12 15 52 52.3 91 103 55 156 51,218 6.3 126.3 102 188

1984 1.438 0.795 2.082 0.579 0.438 0.720 2.484 16 16 52 54.2 96 100 38 90 51,218 6.2 128.0 95 185

1985 3.097 2.133 4.061 1.414 1.058 1.771 2.190 11 14 44 48.5 95 102 58 205 51,218 6.2 127.9 88 177

1986 2.644 1.990 3.298 1.735 1.390 2.081 1.524 10 15 38 43.9 83 98 67 274 51,218 7.2 128.5 100 189

1987 1.466 0.792 2.140 0.841 0.634 1.048 1.744 14 16 42 46.8 87 109 51 135 50,654 6.2 128.8 108 182

1988 1.168 0.722 1.613 1.102 0.756 1.448 1.060 11 13 32 38.3 82 98 56 172 50,654 6.4 126.6 91 176

1989 1.481 0.794 2.169 1.221 0.801 1.640 1.214 11 15 34 40.0 84 101 57 175 50,654 4.5 127.6 86 170

1990 1.571 0.828 2.314 1.077 0.668 1.486 1.458 14 16 39 44.8 82 99 48 158 50,482 5.3 127.5 90 173

1991 1.521 0.917 2.126 0.805 0.517 1.093 1.890 11 15 48 49.7 89 99 44 120 50,654 6.5 131.1 91 171

1992 1.093 0.622 1.565 0.612 0.384 0.840 1.785 14 15 47 48.4 89 102 31 86 49,945 6.1 125.7 92 166

1993 0.691 0.353 1.028 0.472 0.311 0.633 1.464 13 13 36 42.3 91 105 35 75 50,478 5.5 123.6 101 170

1994 0.412 0.226 0.599 0.413 0.254 0.571 0.999 12 14 38 39.7 66 92 38 74 50,478 6.7 126.2 98 173

1995 0.574 0.313 0.835 0.391 0.240 0.542 1.468 9 12 42 45.8 84 92 31 66 50,654 7.1 127.2 102 172

1996 0.377 0.181 0.573 0.318 0.100 0.535 1.188 13 18 36 41.5 80 93 23 62 50,654 6.1 126.4 108 167

1997 0.429 0.119 0.739 0.275 0.156 0.394 1.561 15 20 47 47.9 82 87 25 47 50,478 6.7 120.7 93 174

1998 0.489 0.212 0.765 0.339 0.240 0.438 1.440 12 14 35 40.8 89 98 42 85 50,654 5.9 125.5 92 200

1999 0.369 0.093 0.646 0.255 0.163 0.347 1.448 11 17 40 46.2 83 89 26 44 50,121 6.7 127.1 98 172

2000 0.431 0.169 0.692 0.478 0.013 0.943 0.901 12 12 24 34.0 82 89 28 103 50,654 7.3 121.3 105 174

2001 0.501 0.221 0.781 0.224 0.081 0.368 2.230 14 33 56 57.7 80 92 16 35 50,654 6.5 131.1 99 174

2002 0.337 0.140 0.534 0.253 0.130 0.376 1.335 13 15 38 41.9 88 93 24 53 50,654 7.5 126.1 96 176

2003 0.605 0.274 0.936 0.337 0.206 0.469 1.793 19 19 50 50.9 86 102 30 57 50,654 5.5 127.2 98 169

2004 0.373 0.181 0.565 0.210 0.126 0.295 1.774 15 15 47 50.2 91 95 21 47 50,654 5.0 128.7 95 173

2005 0.444 0.157 0.731 0.378 0.170 0.586 1.175 16 17 44 44.4 76 89 19 62 50,654 5.5 127.4 95 172

2006 0.205 0.036 0.374 0.189 0.021 0.358 1.084 12 14 41 41.9 83 87 15 29 50,654 7.1 125.4 92 181

2007 0.396 0.147 0.644 0.437 0.232 0.642 0.906 9 11 24 32.3 88 98 26 99 50,654 5.9 123.4 96 186

2008 0.259 0.089 0.429 0.187 0.087 0.286 1.387 10 12 37 41.5 90 94 20 39 50,654 6.0 124.6 101 180

2009 0.155 0.086 0.225 0.152 0.087 0.216 1.025 13 14 37 39.5 74 97 41 162 50,654 6.2 125.9 103 220

2010 0.202 0.122 0.281 0.201 0.125 0.278 1.001 11 13 34 38.1 76 96 46 183 50,654 6.9 124.3 98 214

2011 0.211 0.136 0.286 0.207 0.125 0.289 1.022 12 12 28 35.3 87 94 47 176 50,654 7.0 127.3 101 198

2012 0.168 0.090 0.245 0.255 0.102 0.408 0.657 12 12 24 31.4 61 98 52 214 50,654 8.1 124.8 102 215

2013 0.093 0.040 0.147 0.128 0.061 0.195 0.729 11 14 29 34.6 64 91 35 179 50,654 7.1 123.8 105 223

2014 0.190 0.090 0.291 0.168 0.109 0.228 1.131 11 16 41 42.2 66 94 46 141 50,654 6.9 129.5 125 196

2015 0.280 0.102 0.457 0.191 0.118 0.265 1.461 14 25 45 47.5 74 97 48 177 50,654 6.1 124.2 106 215
71

Table 31. Abundance and biomass from Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) fall surveys for thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) for the 

Gulf of Maine to Southern New England region (offshore strata 1-30, 34-40). The mean index (mn), 95% confidence intervals (L [lower], U

[upper]), individual fish weight (ind wt [kg]), minimum, mean, and maximum length, 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles of length, number of positive 

tows (pos), and number of fish (fish) caught, area sampled, mean bottom temperature (°C) and depth (m), mean day of year, and total number of 

tows are presented for 1963-2015.

weight/tow (kg) number/tow ind length (cm)

mn L U mn L U wt min 5 50 mn 95 max pos fish area temp depth day tows

1963 5.082 3.511 6.652 1.632 1.262 2.002 3.114 10 16 60 59.4 97 107 64 291 49,945 8.6 120.6 333 164

1964 4.332 3.193 5.472 1.671 1.121 2.221 2.593 10 14 49 52.5 95 110 71 312 51,218 7.9 119.8 313 170

1965 4.542 3.318 5.765 1.857 1.266 2.448 2.445 10 14 45 49.3 95 107 62 389 51,218 8.4 120.9 296 173

1966 7.958 6.118 9.798 2.375 1.850 2.900 3.350 9 13 62 59.2 95 112 77 389 51,218 7.8 119.6 301 169

1967 2.806 1.496 4.117 1.005 0.396 1.615 2.792 12 14 50 52.5 95 100 54 166 51,218 7.5 124.7 318 190

1968 4.508 3.395 5.622 1.464 1.057 1.871 3.080 12 16 56 57.5 97 107 59 217 51,218 9.3 128.9 307 188

1969 5.749 4.331 7.167 1.865 1.382 2.348 3.083 12 14 56 56.6 97 106 71 287 51,218 9.1 128.0 306 188

1970 7.432 5.687 9.178 2.240 1.486 2.995 3.318 8 19 57 60.4 98 109 75 400 51,218 9.2 122.0 304 193

1971 5.327 4.103 6.551 1.425 1.081 1.768 3.739 12 18 64 64.2 99 111 66 276 51,218 10.0 126.1 296 208

1972 4.130 2.968 5.291 1.708 1.286 2.130 2.418 12 17 52 53.3 94 105 71 297 51,218 10.3 121.1 299 202

1973 4.628 3.269 5.988 1.551 1.142 1.960 2.984 12 17 60 61.3 95 111 70 272 51,218 10.6 126.8 296 194

1974 3.003 2.116 3.889 1.349 0.976 1.721 2.227 10 14 51 51.7 90 111 75 277 51,218 10.7 126.9 289 200

1975 2.455 1.448 3.461 1.002 0.687 1.318 2.449 10 12 48 50.2 94 106 66 222 51,218 10.0 122.7 293 209

1976 1.749 1.020 2.479 0.811 0.552 1.070 2.157 12 15 45 49.1 91 103 57 143 51,218 10.7 123.4 302 190

1977 3.157 2.448 3.867 1.524 1.198 1.850 2.072 10 13 50 50.5 89 107 106 437 51,218 10.4 123.6 308 236

1978 4.192 3.379 5.005 2.089 1.579 2.600 2.007 10 16 50 51.2 89 107 151 852 51,218 9.3 124.7 294 370

1979 3.663 2.786 4.540 1.292 0.867 1.718 2.834 11 23 60 59.8 89 101 132 483 50,121 10.1 123.0 301 369

1980 4.579 3.309 5.850 1.846 1.459 2.234 2.480 11 14 56 54.6 90 100 82 404 51,218 10.0 122.2 297 209

1981 3.284 2.494 4.074 1.251 0.904 1.599 2.624 12 18 57 58.1 90 103 68 205 51,218 9.2 125.0 296 190

1982 0.655 0.315 0.995 0.389 0.186 0.591 1.686 11 13 35 43.4 85 96 29 81 51,218 10.0 123.2 294 190

1983 2.423 1.553 3.293 0.834 0.587 1.082 2.904 15 23 57 58.9 93 108 47 118 50,121 9.9 123.5 292 178

1984 2.851 1.934 3.769 1.254 0.957 1.551 2.274 10 13 49 49.5 95 107 66 202 51,218 10.5 129.8 287 186

1985 2.890 1.762 4.019 1.447 1.096 1.797 1.998 12 16 50 49.5 88 103 64 258 51,218 10.2 125.1 298 181

1986 1.602 1.035 2.170 0.990 0.741 1.239 1.618 11 14 36 44.1 83 101 58 172 51,218 10.1 126.5 292 187

1987 0.945 0.587 1.304 0.851 0.606 1.096 1.111 12 14 37 40.1 78 92 48 142 50,654 9.0 126.5 284 174

1988 1.495 0.997 1.992 1.107 0.703 1.511 1.351 13 15 32 41.3 84 101 54 206 50,654 9.1 125.8 285 173

1989 1.810 0.896 2.723 1.101 0.756 1.447 1.643 12 14 40 45.7 85 101 60 187 50,654 8.6 125.7 286 172

1990 1.721 1.098 2.345 1.044 0.745 1.344 1.648 12 17 43 47.2 85 95 52 199 50,654 5.8 125.6 281 180

1991 1.636 0.505 2.766 0.924 0.589 1.258 1.771 13 15 48 49.4 86 108 53 150 50,654 10.1 121.3 279 173

1992 0.931 0.522 1.339 0.765 0.448 1.083 1.216 12 13 36 40.6 84 99 46 140 50,654 9.9 126.8 284 171

1993 1.686 0.650 2.722 0.907 0.439 1.376 1.858 12 13 50 48.1 91 101 49 155 50,654 10.0 128.1 279 171

1994 1.529 0.343 2.715 0.995 0.313 1.676 1.537 13 17 46 46.9 84 97 40 169 50,654 11.0 129.1 282 176

1995 0.776 0.318 1.234 0.641 0.177 1.105 1.210 13 14 40 42.0 72 99 35 105 50,654 11.0 124.5 278 177

1996 0.803 0.341 1.265 0.561 0.317 0.805 1.431 14 15 40 44.0 88 99 36 99 50,654 9.5 123.8 281 173

1997 0.838 0.388 1.289 0.398 0.233 0.564 2.105 12 20 51 52.1 83 99 30 76 50,654 10.5 123.5 284 175

1998 0.660 0.303 1.016 0.312 0.147 0.476 2.115 13 14 52 52.4 87 93 30 60 50,654 9.0 123.8 292 189

1999 0.459 0.228 0.691 0.315 0.182 0.447 1.460 13 14 42 46.2 88 94 35 68 50,654 11.4 122.0 295 191

2000 0.835 0.386 1.283 0.372 0.235 0.510 2.243 13 17 49 52.6 92 102 25 68 50,654 10.6 121.3 276 173

2001 0.321 0.074 0.568 0.294 0.156 0.433 1.090 16 17 43 43.7 74 82 22 59 50,654 10.0 122.3 277 175

2002 0.406 0.164 0.648 0.253 0.119 0.386 1.608 14 15 33 43.0 85 95 24 50 50,654 10.8 126.1 281 170

2003 0.755 0.457 1.052 0.946 0.171 1.720 0.798 12 14 23 34.2 74 89 34 175 50,654 10.0 126.9 280 173
72

Table 31, continued. Abundance and biomass from Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) fall surveys for thorny skate (Amblyraja 

radiata) for the Gulf of Maine to Southern New England region (offshore strata 1-30, 34-40). The mean index (mn), 95% confidence intervals (L

[lower],U [upper]), individual fish weight (ind wt [kg]), minimum, mean, and maximum length, 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles of length, number 

of positive tows (pos), and number of fish (fish) caught, area sampled, mean bottom temperature (°C) and depth (m), mean day of year, and total 

number of tows are presented for 1963-2015.

weight/tow (kg) number/tow ind length (cm)

mn L U mn L U wt min 5 50 mn 95 max pos fish area temp depth day tows

2004 0.722 0.276 1.168 0.364 0.170 0.559 1.981 14 18 45 50.1 87 90 23 65 50,654 9.1 122.6 283 172

2005 0.204 0.078 0.330 0.197 -0.045 0.438 1.038 13 18 39 41.5 76 90 16 34 50,654 9.8 122.1 285 173

2006 0.739 0.393 1.085 0.258 0.157 0.360 2.860 13 15 51 54.6 93 94 27 52 50,654 10.7 121.0 277 200

2007 0.321 0.084 0.558 0.301 0.073 0.529 1.067 10 13 19 34.6 84 92 22 45 50,654 9.3 126.0 284 186

2008 0.199 0.032 0.365 0.121 0.052 0.189 1.650 14 14 25 40.0 84 89 15 26 50,654 4.1 125.0 284 186

2009 0.274 0.124 0.424 0.190 0.111 0.269 1.441 13 14 40 42.6 83 97 46 145 50,654 10.6 127.0 297 191

2010 0.301 0.145 0.456 0.306 0.129 0.482 0.984 12 13 31 36.6 82 109 43 211 50,654 11.0 125.3 299 191

2011 0.188 0.092 0.283 0.564 -0.149 1.277 0.333 11 12 17 24.5 54 94 42 432 50,654 11.0 127.2 290 177

2012 0.081 0.038 0.123 0.115 0.078 0.152 0.703 10 14 31 35.2 58 82 40 101 50,654 11.4 128.4 287 208

2013 0.110 0.063 0.158 0.107 0.074 0.141 1.027 12 13 35 38.7 65 99 41 104 50,654 10.8 125.3 294 207

2014 0.213 0.123 0.304 0.216 0.114 0.319 0.985 12 16 39 41.0 64 97 40 175 50,654 11.8 124.3 291 206

2015 0.186 0.110 0.263 0.139 0.079 0.199 1.342 11 16 41 44.0 74 101 36 143 50,654 na 128.4 283 215
73

Table 32. Minimum swept area biomass and abundance of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from 

the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) spring and fall surveys.

Spring survey Fall Survey

Year Min Biomass (mt) Min Abundance (000s) Min Biomass (mt) Min Abundance (000s)

1963 22,661.8 7,276.9

1964 19,812.0 7,639.5

1965 20,769.3 8,493.1

1966 36,393.0 10,862.8

1967 12,833.4 4,597.2

1968 12,318.4 6,923.1 20,617.4 6,694.4

1969 21,127.8 7,794.8 26,291.1 8,528.0

1970 19,521.4 9,220.5 33,988.5 10,245.2

1971 17,382.1 9,179.3 24,361.0 6,515.0

1972 23,103.2 10,260.2 18,885.9 7,810.8

1973 30,780.7 16,503.8 21,165.5 7,093.2

1974 17,364.6 11,258.3 13,732.4 6,166.8

1975 14,063.8 5,999.6 11,226.1 4,583.5

1976 13,347.5 7,729.6 8,000.3 3,708.4

1977 7,482.3 4,323.8 14,438.0 6,969.0

1978 5,475.2 3,625.4 19,170.8 9,553.5

1979 5,120.7 2,834.4 16,391.9 5,783.5

1980 9,751.8 5,939.2 20,940.7 8,443.7

1981 12,280.3 6,830.2 15,017.6 5,722.4

1982 10,823.0 5,282.4 2,995.5 1,776.8

1983 9,958.9 4,502.7 10,843.0 3,734.2

1984 6,577.8 2,648.0 13,039.0 5,733.7

1985 14,162.1 6,468.1 13,217.6 6,615.1

1986 12,090.9 7,936.3 7,327.1 4,529.0

1987 6,631.6 3,803.0 4,275.3 3,848.0

1988 5,280.3 4,983.6 6,760.3 5,005.9

1989 6,699.8 5,520.4 8,184.5 4,981.3

1990 7,079.8 4,854.8 7,785.6 4,723.7

1991 6,880.1 3,639.8 7,397.6 4,178.1

1992 4,874.5 2,730.5 4,208.5 3,461.6

1993 3,114.2 2,127.2 7,626.0 4,104.1

1994 1,858.3 1,859.8 6,915.6 4,498.5

1995 2,595.5 1,768.0 3,508.0 2,899.1

1996 1,705.7 1,436.2 3,631.6 2,538.7

1997 1,934.4 1,239.6 3,792.1 1,801.2

1998 2,209.5 1,534.0 2,982.9 1,410.5

1999 1,653.0 1,141.3 2,076.9 1,423.1

2000 1,947.0 2,162.1 3,775.4 1,683.0

2001 2,264.0 1,015.2 1,451.8 1,331.5

2002 1,525.2 1,142.3 1,837.0 1,142.7

2003 2,736.1 1,526.3 3,413.2 4,276.4

2004 1,687.6 951.2 3,265.7 1,648.2

2005 2,008.3 1,708.6 923.8 889.9

2006 928.0 856.5 3,340.7 1,168.3

2007 1,789.6 1,976.3 1,452.4 1,361.6

2008 1,171.9 844.7 899.0 545.0

2009 702.6 685.3 1,238.8 859.4

2010 911.6 910.4 1,360.8 1,382.7

2011 956.0 935.8 849.9 2,549.2

2012 757.7 1,153.9 365.0 518.9

2013 422.3 579.3 498.6 485.4

2014 861.6 761.6 964.2 978.7

2015 1,264.3 865.6 843.5 628.3
74

Table 33. Abundance and biomass from Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission shrimp trawl surveys for thorny skate (Amblyraja 

radiata) for shrimp strata 1, 3, 5-8). The mean index (mn), 95% confidence intervals (L [lower], U [upper]), individual fish weight (ind wt 

[kg]), minimum, mean, and maximum length, 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles of length, number of positive tows (pos), and number of fish 

(fish) caught, area sampled, mean bottom temperature (°C) and depth (m), mean day of year, and total number of tows are presented for 

1985-2015.

weight/tow (kg) number/tow ind length (cm)

mn L U mn L U wt min 5 50 mn 95 max pos fish area temp depth day tows

1985 7.320 4.345 10.295 1.427 0.833 2.021 5.129 - - - - - - 32 59 6,147 4.0 187.8 221 44

1986 1.366 0.611 2.120 1.528 0.577 2.479 0.894 - - - - - - 18 47 6,147 6.3 184.3 214 40

1987 4.969 0.804 9.134 3.201 2.269 4.133 1.552 - - - - - - 30 95 6,147 6.0 151.5 221 41

1988 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 - - - - - - - 0 0 6,147 6.5 200.7 222 41

1989 1.053 0.346 1.760 0.694 0.398 0.991 1.517 - - - - - - 23 32 6,147 5.6 183.7 217 43

1990 1.015 0.268 1.763 1.043 0.539 1.547 0.973 - - - - - - 21 44 6,147 3.6 192.0 216 43

1991 0.419 0.005 0.833 0.744 0.376 1.112 0.564 - - - - - - 18 34 6,147 6.1 145.3 214 43

1992 0.931 0.187 1.675 0.754 0.376 1.131 1.236 14 14 27 36.5 81 89 17 33 6,147 6.3 191.7 220 45

1993 1.508 0.244 2.771 1.540 -0.343 3.424 0.979 10 10 17 29.5 75 100 15 57 6,147 5.8 193.8 219 46

1994 0.839 -0.042 1.721 0.495 0.142 0.848 1.696 15 15 31 41.8 97 98 12 18 6,147 6.8 177.2 218 43

1995 0.597 0.074 1.119 0.370 0.166 0.574 1.613 10 10 19 39.3 83 98 11 14 6,147 6.6 178.3 218 35

1996 0.394 -0.200 0.988 0.263 0.064 0.463 1.495 8 8 37 41.6 83 84 8 13 6,147 7.1 172.8 216 32

1997 0.336 -0.119 0.792 0.097 0.007 0.187 3.477 13 13 67 60.1 85 86 5 5 6,147 6.8 188.0 213 40

1998 0.543 0.107 0.980 0.294 0.130 0.459 1.845 17 18 50 53.2 78 79 11 14 6,147 6.3 175.5 214 35

1999 2.359 1.048 3.670 0.909 0.518 1.300 2.595 12 15 54 56.6 87 99 19 44 6,147 6.1 180.6 212 42

2000 0.857 0.157 1.556 0.273 0.073 0.473 3.138 16 16 59 58.1 92 93 8 12 6,147 6.7 178.8 210 35

2001 0.405 -0.037 0.848 0.311 0.046 0.577 1.302 12 12 34 40.1 84 98 9 12 6,147 6.5 176.8 209 36

2002 1.624 0.566 2.682 0.560 0.338 0.782 2.9 11 11 62 56.5 95 101 15 24 6,147 7.1 178.1 208 38

2003 4.089 2.063 6.116 1.071 0.591 1.552 3.817 10 15 70 66.3 90 95 23 48 6,147 5.6 167.5 213 37

2004 0.159 0.004 0.315 0.064 0.007 0.120 2.504 49 49 62 63.4 81 82 4 5 6,147 4.7 181.0 214 35

2005 1.667 0.588 2.746 0.419 0.151 0.686 3.981 13 15 73 66.7 90 93 12 22 6,147 4.9 185.0 212 46

2006 0.911 0.275 1.547 0.232 0.094 0.370 3.925 21 21 75 65.8 98 99 8 13 6,147 7.1 180.9 213 29

2007 1.982 0.639 3.324 0.616 0.269 0.963 3.216 12 12 49 52.0 102 105 15 29 6,147 5.9 164.3 213 43

2008 1.052 0.345 1.760 0.811 0.352 1.270 1.298 14 14 21 34.8 87 93 16 32 6,147 5.9 176.1 216 37

2009 0.609 0.157 1.060 0.553 0.288 0.818 1.101 12 12 20 33.8 84 88 17 30 6,147 6.0 168.7 205 49

2010 0.897 0.286 1.509 0.399 0.187 0.610 2.251 14 15 35 47.9 87 90 14 23 6,147 7.4 172.8 203 49

2011 1.110 0.282 1.938 0.373 0.163 0.583 2.977 10 10 40 48.9 97 98 13 20 6,147 7.7 169.2 203 47

2012 0.650 0.122 1.178 0.343 0.117 0.569 1.896 12 12 15 37.9 97 102 12 22 6,147 7.9 170.7 217 49

2013 0.275 -0.002 0.552 0.258 0.109 0.408 1.066 14 14 32 38.2 91 92 12 16 6,147 7.1 175.4 214 46

2014 0.396 0.007 0.784 0.310 0.136 0.484 1.276 15 15 36 39.7 66 106 13 19 6,147 6.2 185.2 211 47

2015 0.862 0.214 1.510 0.255 0.061 0.449 3.381 30 30 54 59.6 95 96 9 15 6,147 5.8 176.5 213 32
75

Table 34. Abundance and biomass from Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) spring trawl surveys for thorny skate 

(Amblyraja radiata) for the (Mass strata 11-36). The mean index (mn), 95% confidence intervals (L [lower], U [upper]), individual fish 

weight (ind wt [kg]), minimum, mean, and maximum length, 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles of length, number of positive tows (pos), and 

number of fish (fish) caught, area sampled, mean bottom temperature (°C) and depth (m), mean day of year, and total number of tows 

are presented for 1978-2015.

weight/tow (kg) number/tow ind length (cm)

mn L U mn L U wt min 5 50 mn 95 max pos fish area temp depth day tows

1978 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 - - - - - - - 0 0 1,761 10.5 19.0 148 95

1979 0.375 -0.082 0.831 0.287 0.099 0.474 1.306 18 18 42 42.3 71 84 13 43 1,833 9.4 21.2 130 100

1980 0.073 -0.043 0.189 0.067 -0.006 0.140 1.088 19 19 27 36.1 83 84 4 9 1,833 9.5 21.4 135 98

1981 0.460 -0.123 1.043 0.188 0.015 0.362 2.440 20 20 44 50.6 90 91 6 22 1,833 8.6 21.4 133 97

1982 0.474 -0.147 1.096 0.147 0.021 0.273 3.227 17 17 57 54.5 95 96 11 16 1,833 8.1 19.6 132 95

1983 0.173 -0.082 0.428 0.153 0.005 0.301 1.130 13 26 38 41.5 59 85 5 19 1,833 9.0 21.6 136 94

1984 0.087 0.022 0.151 0.202 0.078 0.325 0.429 12 15 32 31.0 39 59 11 24 1,833 8.6 22.2 135 99

1985 0.472 -0.074 1.017 0.462 -0.051 0.974 1.022 13 15 27 35.8 77 97 12 51 1,833 9.2 22.3 134 93

1986 0.282 -0.053 0.617 0.308 -0.072 0.689 0.915 21 25 39 39.6 69 86 5 29 1,833 8.6 21.9 133 94

1987 0.037 -0.004 0.078 0.073 -0.005 0.151 0.507 24 24 37 35.3 43 44 4 9 1,833 8.8 22.5 131 97

1988 0.061 -0.011 0.133 0.123 0.030 0.216 0.498 18 18 31 34.2 60 61 6 13 1,833 8.5 22.0 138 91

1989 0.173 -0.034 0.380 0.240 -0.045 0.524 0.723 16 16 31 34.4 73 74 6 27 1,833 6.7 21.4 136 94

1990 0.056 0.011 0.102 0.107 0.039 0.176 0.524 22 22 31 32.9 46 47 7 12 1,833 8.2 22.1 135 95

1991 0.084 -0.008 0.176 0.070 0.006 0.135 1.197 31 31 40 46.6 62 63 5 10 1,833 10.4 21.4 134 98

1992 0.114 0.001 0.228 0.183 -0.062 0.429 0.624 17 17 22 30.3 72 73 4 16 1,833 8.4 21.6 134 92

1993 0.095 0.037 0.154 0.190 0.077 0.302 0.503 24 24 29 35.0 55 56 7 17 1,833 8.7 22.1 132 88

1994 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 - - - - - - - 0 0 1,833 8.3 22.2 137 87

1995 0.051 -0.032 0.135 0.110 -0.002 0.223 0.467 15 15 20 28.7 58 59 5 14 1,833 8.7 22.3 136 97

1996 0.140 0.021 0.259 0.227 0.067 0.387 0.617 15 15 37 34.9 59 60 8 32 1,833 8.3 22.2 135 101

1997 0.057 -0.016 0.130 0.141 0.012 0.270 0.406 22 22 29 32.3 55 56 5 14 1,833 8.3 22.3 133 98

1998 0.055 -0.044 0.155 0.070 -0.024 0.164 0.797 28 28 41 40.8 63 64 3 8 1,833 8.5 22.4 133 89

1999 0.038 -0.013 0.089 0.051 -0.014 0.115 0.747 27 27 34 39.2 54 55 3 4 1,833 10.3 22.1 138 96

2000 0.105 0.018 0.192 0.087 0.021 0.152 1.216 33 33 40 45.6 71 72 6 11 1,833 10.0 22.1 137 97

2001 0.157 0.008 0.306 0.184 -0.051 0.418 0.856 25 25 39 41.4 57 59 5 24 1,833 9.2 22.7 135 98

2002 0.041 -0.008 0.091 0.032 0.002 0.062 1.301 36 36 50 49.8 59 60 4 5 1,833 9.5 21.8 134 100

2003 0.085 -0.009 0.180 0.037 0.005 0.069 2.311 40 40 66 58.8 70 71 4 4 1,833 8.3 22.7 133 96

2004 0.086 -0.022 0.193 0.076 -0.011 0.163 1.127 34 34 47 47.6 62 63 4 10 1,833 8.4 21.9 132 99

2005 0.062 -0.047 0.170 0.030 -0.013 0.072 2.075 40 40 57 55.0 80 81 2 4 1,833 8.1 22.9 139 94

2006 0.093 -0.089 0.275 0.023 -0.022 0.068 4.050 54 54 91 73.0 91 92 1 2 1,833 9.5 22.3 137 100

2007 0.025 -0.012 0.062 0.029 -0.015 0.073 0.878 40 40 42 42.7 45 46 2 3 1,833 8.8 22.3 136 101

2008 0.157 0.007 0.307 0.083 0.011 0.155 1.900 35 35 44 52.4 77 78 6 8 1,833 8.2 22.5 134 103

2009 0.056 -0.018 0.129 0.050 0.014 0.086 1.119 14 14 27 39.8 66 67 5 5 1,833 8.9 21.9 132 101

2010 0.042 0.003 0.080 0.071 0.016 0.127 0.582 25 25 36 37.9 49 50 5 8 1,833 9.2 22.2 130 103

2011 0.029 -0.013 0.071 0.035 -0.003 0.072 0.830 35 35 40 43.0 56 57 3 4 1,833 8.9 21.7 131 102

2012 0.034 0.002 0.065 0.084 -0.014 0.181 0.404 30 30 30 34.2 45 46 3 8 1,833 10.9 22.0 135 100

2013 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 - - - - - - - 0 0 1,833 10.2 21.8 134 100

2014 0.012 -0.007 0.030 0.015 -0.003 0.033 0.780 31 31 51 41.5 51 52 2 2 1,833 9.1 22.4 133 102

2015 0.001 -0.001 0.003 0.007 -0.007 0.022 0.121 24 24 24 24.0 24 24 1 1 1,833 9.1 22.2 132 99
76

Table 35. Abundance and biomass from Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) fall trawl surveys for thorny skate (Amblyraja 

radiata) for the (Mass strata 11-36). The mean index (mn), 95% confidence intervals (L [lower], U [upper]), individual fish weight (ind wt 

[kg]), minimum, mean, and maximum length, 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles of length, number of positive tows (pos), and number of fish 

(fish) caught, area sampled, mean bottom temperature (°C) and depth (m), mean day of year, and total number of tows are presented for 

1978-2015.

weight/tow (kg) number/tow ind length (cm)

mn L U mn L U wt min 5 50 mn 95 max pos fish area temp depth day tows

1978 0.897 0.093 1.701 0.591 0.223 0.960 1.517 18 24 41 47.2 76 102 12 74 1,812 13.0 21.1 261 91

1979 0.308 -0.042 0.658 0.279 0.079 0.478 1.106 16 16 37 40.8 66 83 10 36 1,833 13.0 21.0 265 98

1980 0.262 0.061 0.462 0.195 0.059 0.331 1.341 15 15 37 40.3 79 97 12 29 1,833 14.7 21.2 262 97

1981 0.007 -0.004 0.017 0.015 -0.006 0.035 0.456 30 30 40 35.6 40 41 2 2 1,833 15.6 21.2 268 95

1982 0.104 -0.059 0.266 0.077 0.020 0.133 1.352 19 19 27 39.7 74 75 7 9 1,833 13.7 21.4 260 93

1983 0.608 0.088 1.128 0.705 0.399 1.012 0.862 14 14 27 35.5 66 96 14 70 1,833 13.6 21.2 258 85

1984 0.223 -0.111 0.556 0.197 0.030 0.363 1.132 14 14 28 35.8 96 97 7 20 1,833 13.8 21.8 262 92

1985 0.152 0.028 0.275 0.348 0.177 0.518 0.437 17 17 28 30.6 59 62 11 36 1,812 15.6 22.1 253 88

1986 0.208 0.052 0.364 0.306 0.135 0.478 0.679 17 18 33 36.2 61 66 12 41 1,833 14.0 22.1 258 90

1987 0.237 -0.014 0.488 0.157 0.022 0.292 1.509 14 19 32 40.2 86 87 8 15 1,797 12.3 22.5 260 88

1988 0.168 -0.162 0.498 0.435 -0.418 1.288 0.387 17 17 23 27.6 55 63 1 23 1,797 12.5 22.0 259 75

1989 0.208 0.181 0.234 0.332 0.273 0.391 0.625 13 13 26 32.2 66 67 5 15 1,739 13.9 21.8 255 68

1990 0.300 -0.051 0.652 0.252 -0.016 0.520 1.193 24 24 32 38.6 96 97 7 22 1,833 15.9 21.8 254 87

1991 0.451 -0.005 0.907 0.502 0.133 0.872 0.898 13 18 32 37.1 69 96 10 61 1,778 16.1 21.7 255 86

1992 0.154 0.056 0.251 0.230 0.094 0.365 0.668 15 17 30 33.1 64 78 8 26 1,833 13.7 22.0 261 77

1993 0.170 0.023 0.317 0.304 0.075 0.532 0.560 14 16 31 34.4 55 67 6 26 1,833 13.7 22.3 258 81

1994 0.008 -0.001 0.016 0.042 -0.010 0.095 0.178 15 15 21 24.0 30 31 3 5 1,833 15.9 22.2 257 97

1995 0.144 -0.012 0.299 0.247 0.026 0.468 0.583 11 17 30 33.8 55 57 7 30 1,833 10.4 22.0 256 95

1996 0.041 -0.018 0.100 0.058 -0.021 0.137 0.706 15 15 40 36.2 55 56 4 11 1,833 15.2 22.4 255 95

1997 0.098 -0.030 0.226 0.274 -0.018 0.566 0.358 22 22 31 32.7 51 52 3 15 1,833 15.3 21.6 259 90

1998 0.026 -0.025 0.076 0.014 -0.014 0.042 1.800 59 59 59 59.0 59 59 1 1 1,833 13.5 22.2 261 86

1999 0.114 -0.036 0.264 0.097 0.003 0.191 1.171 27 27 54 49.1 64 65 5 16 1,833 15.2 22.3 258 91

2000 0.107 -0.016 0.231 0.081 -0.012 0.174 1.321 17 17 48 46.4 67 68 3 10 1,833 15.9 21.9 257 93

2001 0.300 0.005 0.595 0.055 0.003 0.106 5.487 42 42 81 76.3 93 94 4 8 1,833 14.2 22.4 255 96

2002 0.303 -0.031 0.638 0.112 -0.005 0.229 2.705 41 41 64 63.0 82 83 6 13 1,833 16.4 22.0 254 89

2003 0.018 -0.003 0.039 0.019 0.002 0.035 0.967 31 31 42 44.3 58 59 3 3 1,833 14.4 22.3 253 93

2004 0.074 0.010 0.139 0.042 0.010 0.075 1.750 41 41 56 54.6 63 64 5 7 1,833 13.0 22.3 265 84

2005 0.002 -0.002 0.005 0.009 -0.009 0.027 0.200 29 29 29 29.0 29 29 1 1 1,833 14.5 23.1 256 92

2006 0.179 0.046 0.311 0.147 0.003 0.292 1.212 27 27 49 47.4 66 67 4 16 1,833 15.2 22.2 259 96

2007 0.071 -0.027 0.169 0.025 -0.004 0.054 2.854 22 22 75 51.4 77 78 3 3 1,812 14.4 22.1 254 101

2008 0.140 -0.034 0.314 0.100 0.014 0.186 1.399 22 22 29 42.0 88 89 5 10 1,833 15.8 22.2 255 98

2009 0.108 -0.034 0.250 0.095 0.025 0.166 1.133 22 22 37 42.4 78 79 5 11 1,812 15.9 21.8 259 96

2010 0.071 -0.046 0.187 0.051 -0.012 0.114 1.378 30 30 40 46.9 74 75 3 6 1,833 15.1 21.5 258 90

2011 0.395 -0.070 0.860 0.500 0.109 0.890 0.791 18 22 39 41.8 63 81 9 55 1,833 15.6 21.8 257 93

2012 0.023 -0.007 0.052 0.051 -0.009 0.110 0.445 23 23 32 34.9 49 50 3 6 1,833 15.2 21.3 257 92

2013 0.027 -0.007 0.061 0.037 0.001 0.072 0.735 33 33 41 41.9 53 54 4 4 1,833 14.9 21.7 254 98

2014 0.047 -0.005 0.099 0.053 0.008 0.099 0.872 28 28 37 41.4 67 68 5 6 1,833 15.0 21.6 252 100

2015 0.070 -0.002 0.141 0.106 0.026 0.186 0.661 16 16 36 35.7 64 65 6 9 1,833 15.7 22.1 259 94
77

Table 36. Ratio of the bottom longline survey to the bottom trawl survey (LLS/BTS) of thorny 

skate (Amblyraja radiata) stratified mean number and weight per set/tow of the LLS to the BTS 

for all stations types combined, and for rough and smooth station type, in the Gulf of Maine 

(strata 27, 28, 29, 36, 37) during spring and fall, 2014-2015.

Year 2014 2014 2015 2015

season spring fall spring fall 

mean number 1.32 1.32 1.32 1.65

mean weight 1.56 1.74 1.03 2.52
78

Figure 1. Statistical areas used for reporting United States commercial landings of all species of 

fish.
79

Year

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Landings (000s mt)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

Figure 2. Total reported landings of skates (all species) in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries 

Organization (NAFO) subareas 5 and 6.

Year

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Discards (000s mt)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Figure 3. Total discards of skates (all species) in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization

(NAFO) subareas 5 and 6. The green triangles represent the old estimates from the Data Poor 

Stocks Working Group. The blue circles are updated with changes in data. The red squares are 

estimates using the changes in data but imputing for cells in which the number of trips sampled 

was less than 3.
80

Length (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

Number of Fish Measured

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

Sink Gill Net

Length (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

Number of Fish Measured

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

Otter Trawl

Figure 4. Length composition of the kept skate (all species) measured by the Observer Program 

by gear type.
81

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

2000

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

NUMBER Of FISH LANDED (000s)

1998

1999

2001

1994

1995

1996

1997

1997

2002

2003

All Skates

Landing Length Frequencies-Region Combined

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

1998

1999

2000

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

2000

2006

2005

2004

NUMBER Of FISH LANDED (000s)

2007

2009

2010

2008

2011

2012

2013

Figure 5. Skate (all species) length composition from commercial landings data, 1994-2013, 

pooling length frequencies by region.
82

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

2000

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

NUMBER Of FISH LANDED (000s)

1998

1999

2001

1994

1995

1996

1997

1997

2002

2003

All Skates

Landings Length Frequencies-By Region

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

1998

1999

2000

500

1000

1500

500

1000

1500

2000

2006

2005

2004

NUMBER Of FISH LANDED (000s)

2007

2009

2010

2008

2011

2012

2013

Figure 6. Skate (all species) length composition from commercial landings data, 1994-2013, 

pooling length frequencies by area.
83

Figure 7. Map of offshore strata for the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) fall and 

spring surveys.

73

74

76

3

4

62

63

61 64

66

65

67

68

69

70

71

72

75

2

1

7 8

6

5 9

10

11 12

15

13

14

18

17

16

21

32

31

33

34

36

35

39

38 40

37

27

26 28

25

24

23

20

19

29 30

22

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

44

45

43

42

41

40

39

38

37

36

35
84

Figure 8. Map of inshore strata for the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) fall and 

spring surveys.

45

47 51

50

48

46 55

52

54

53

56

58

59 60

61

62 63

64

65

66

67 69

68

70

71

72

73

7475

76 79

77 7880 81

82

83

84

85

86

87

88

90

89

57

71 70 69 68 67 45

44

43

42

41

76 75 

39 

38 

37 

36 

35 

24 21 22

23

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

38

39

40

37

33 34 35

32

36

41

44

43

42

47 45

3

2 1

4 5

6

7 8

9

10 14 11

16

12

13

15 17

20 18

19

21 23

22

24

2526

75 74 73 72 71

39

40

41
85

Thorny Skate Proportion of Landings

Year

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Proportion

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

Reported

Region

Area

Final Pooling

Figure 9. Comparison of proportion thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) of total skate landings by 

reported species and using 3 different methods.

Thorny Skate Proportion of Wings

Year

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Proportion

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

Reported Landings

Curtis and Sosebee 2016

Region

Area

Final Pooling

Figure 10. Comparison of proportion thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) of total skate wing 

landings by reported species and using 4 different methods.
86

Thorny Skate Landings

Year

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Landings (mt)

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Reported

Region

Area

Final Pooling

Figure 11. Comparison of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) landings by reported species and 

using 3 different methods.
87

Figure 12. Kept and discards of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the observer program 

from 1994-2015.
88

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

NUMBER Of FISH DISCARDED (000s)

1998

1999

2001

1994

1995

1996

1997

1997

2002

2003

All Skates

Discards Length Frequencies-Gears Combined

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1998

1999

2000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

2006

2005

2004

NUMBER Of FISH DISCARDED (000s)

2007

2009

2010

2008

2011

2012

2013

Figure 13. Skate (all species) length composition from commercial discard data, 1994-2013, 

pooling length frequencies by region.
89

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

NUMBER Of FISH DISCARDED (000s)

1998

1999

2001

1994

1995

1996

1997

1997

2002

2003

All Skates

Discards Length Frequencies-Gears Combined

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1998

1999

2000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

2006

2005

2004

NUMBER Of FISH DISCARDED (000s)

2007

2009

2010

2008

2011

2012

2013

Figure 14. Skate (all species) length composition from commercial discard data, 1994-2013, 

pooling length frequencies by area.
90

Thorny Skate Proportion of Discards

Year

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Proportion

0.00

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

Reported

Region

Area

Final Pooling

Figure 15. Comparison of percentage thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) of total skate discards by 

reported species and using 3 different methods.

Thorny Skate Total Discards

Year

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Discards (mt)

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

Reported

Region

Area

Final Pooling

Figure 16. Comparison of total thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) discards by observed species 

and using 3 different methods.
91

Thorny Skate Dead Discards

Year

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Discards (mt)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

Reported

Region

Area

Final Pooling

Figure 17. Comparison of dead thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) discards by observed species 

and using 3 different methods.

Year

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Catch (000s mt)

0

10

20

30

40

50

Winter Skate 

Little Skate 

Barndoor Skate 

Thorny Skate 

Smooth Skate 

Clearnose Skate 

Rosette Skate 

Figure 18. Catch (landings plus dead discards) by species from 1968-2014. Skate species 

include: little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), winter skate (L. ocellata), barndoor skate (Dipturus 

laevis), thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata), smooth skate (Malacoraja senta), clearnose skate (Raja 

eglanteria), and rosette skate (L. garmani).
92

Year

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Catch (000s mt)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Landings 

Longline Discards 

Otter Trawl Discards 

Sink Gill Net Discards 

Scallop Dredge Discards 

Figure 19. Catch of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) by disposition and gear type from 1968-

2014.
93

Figure 20. Distribution of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) surveys compared to the 

observed catches in the fisheries for 1996-2005.
94

Figure 21. Distribution of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) surveys compared to the 

observed catches in the fisheries for 2006-2015.
95

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Stratified Mean Number per Tow 0

1

2

3

4

Spring 

Fall 

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Stratified Mean Weight per Tow (kg)

0

2

4

6

8

10

Abundance

Biomass

Thorny Skate

Figure 22. Abundance and biomass of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Northeast 

Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) spring (circles) and fall (squares) bottom trawl surveys from 

1963-2015 in the Gulf of Maine to Southern New England offshore region.
96

Figure 23. Abundance and biomass of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Northeast 

Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) spring bottom trawl surveys from 1968-2015 in the Gulf of 

Maine to Southern New England offshore region. Mean index in solid squares, 95% confidence 

interval in open squares.

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Stratified Mean Number per Tow 0

1

2

3

4

5

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Stratified Mean Weight per Tow (kg)

0

2

4

6

8

10

Abundance

Biomass

Thorny Skate - Spring Survey

 
97

Figure 24. Abundance and biomass of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the NEFSC fall

bottom trawl surveys from 1963-2015 in the Gulf of Maine to Southern New England offshore 

region. Mean index in solid squares, 95% confidence interval in open squares.

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Stratified Mean Number per Tow 0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Stratified Mean Weight per Tow (kg)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Abundance

Biomass

Thorny Skate - Fall Survey
98

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Biomass (mt)

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

GM

GB

SNE

SS

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Biomass (mt)

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

GM

GB

SNE

SS

Thorny Skate 

Biomass by Region

Fall Survey

Spring Survey

Figure 25. Minimum swept area biomass of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the Northeast 

Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) spring (bottom panel) and fall surveys (top panel) from 1963-

2015 by region (GM = Gulf of Maine; GB = Georges Bank; SNE = Southern New England; SS = 

Scotian Shelf).
99

Figure 26. Minimum swept area abundance of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the Northeast 

Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) spring (bottom panel) and fall surveys (top panel) from 1963-

2015 by region (GM = Gulf of Maine; GB = Georges Bank; SNE = Southern New England; SS = 

Scotian Shelf).

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Numbers (000s)

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

GM 

GB

SNE

SS

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Numbers (000s)

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

GM

GB

SNE

SS

Thorny Skate 

Abundance by Region

Fall Survey

Spring Survey
100

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Length (cm)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Figure 27. Minimum (red circles), 5th percentile (blue squares), mean (green squares), median 

(green circles), 95th percentile (blue circles) and maximum (red squares) total length (cm) of 

thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the spring bottom trawl surveys from 1968-2015 in the 

Gulf of Maine to Southern New England region. 
101

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Length (cm)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Figure 28. Minimum (red circles), 5th percentile (blue squares), mean (green squares), median 

(green circles), 95th percentile (blue circles) and maximum (red squares) total length (cm) of 

thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the fall bottom trawl surveys from 1963-2015 in the Gulf of 

Maine to Southern New England region. 
102

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0.00

0.05

0.15

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0.00

0.05

0.15

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

Spring Survey

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

Fall Survey

STRATIFIED MEAN NUMBER PER TOW

STRATIFIED MEAN NUMBER PER TOW

1967

NO SURVEY CONDUCTED

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.15

1966

1965

1964

1963

Figure 29. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) length composition from the Northeast Fisheries 

Science Center (NEFSC) spring and fall bottom trawl surveys in the Gulf of Maine to Southern 

New England offshore region, 1963-1972.
103

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0.00

0.05

0.10

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.05

0.10

0.15

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

Spring Survey

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

Fall Survey

STRATIFIED MEAN NUMBER PER TOW

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

STRATIFIED MEAN NUMBER PER TOW

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

Figure 30. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) length composition from the Northeast Fisheries 

Science Center (NEFSC) spring and fall bottom trawl surveys in the Gulf of Maine to Southern 

New England offshore region, 1973-1982.
104

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.15

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.15

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

STRATIFIED MEAN NUMBER PER TOW

STRATIFIED MEAN NUMBER PER TOW

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

Spring Survey Fall Survey

Figure 31. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) length composition from the Northeast Fisheries 

Science Center (NEFSC) spring and fall bottom trawl surveys in the Gulf of Maine to Southern 

New England offshore region, 1983-1992.
105

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.15

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.15

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

STRATIFIED MEAN NUMBER PER TOW

STRATIFIED MEAN NUMBER PER TOW

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

Spring Survey Fall Survey

0.05

0.10 1997

0.05

0.10 1998

0.05

0.10 1999

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

1997

1998

Figure 32. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) length composition from the Northeast Fisheries 

Science Center (NEFSC) spring and fall bottom trawl surveys in the Gulf of Maine to Southern 

New England offshore region, 1993-2002.
106

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.15

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.15

2003

2004

2005

2006

1997

STRATIFIED MEAN NUMBER PER TOW

STRATIFIED MEAN NUMBER PER TOW

1998

2009

2010

2011

2012

2003

2004

2005

2006

1997

1998

1999

2010

2011

2012

Spring Survey Fall Survey

0.05

0.10 2007

0.05

0.10 2008

0.05

0.10 2009

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

2007

2008

Figure 33. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) length composition from the Northeast Fisheries 

Science Center (NEFSC) spring and fall bottom trawl surveys in the Gulf of Maine to Southern 

New England offshore region, 2003-2012.
107

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.15

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.15

2013

2014

2015

STRATIFIED MEAN NUMBER PER TOW

2013

2014

2015

Spring Survey Fall Survey

Figure 34. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) length composition from the Northeast Fisheries 

Science Center (NEFSC) spring and fall bottom trawl surveys in the Gulf of Maine to Southern 

New England offshore region, 2013-2015.
108

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Proportion Positive Tows 0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Proportion Positive Tows 0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

Spring Survey

Fall Survey

Thorny Skate

Figure 35. Fraction positive tows of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Northeast 

Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) spring and fall surveys. The solid line is a Loess smooth of 

0.5.
109

Cumulative Area (percent)

0 20 40 60 80 100

Cumulative Abundance (percent)

0

20

40

60

80

100

1963 Abundance

Unity Line

Figure 36. Example computation of the Gini index for thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) during fall 

1963 in the Gulf of Maine to Southern New England region.
110

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Gini Index 0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1.0

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Gini Index 0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1.0

Numbers

Weight

Thorny Skate

Figure 37. Gini indices of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Northeast Fisheries Science 

Center (NEFSC) fall survey. The solid line is a Loess smooth of 0.4
111

Design Weighted Area Occupied

Year

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Area Occupied (square nm)

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

Fall

Spring

Figure 38. Design-weighted area occupied (DWAO) of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the 

spring and fall surveys.
112

Figure 39. Distribution of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in 4 time periods (1968-1970, 1989-1991, 2007-2009, and 2013-2015) from the 

Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) spring survey.
113

Figure 40. Distribution of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in 4 time periods (1968-1970, 1989-1991, 2007-2009, and 2013-2015) from the 

Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) fall survey.
114

Figure 41. Map of survey strata for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission shrimp 

survey.
115

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Stratified Mean Number per Tow 0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Stratified Mean Weight per Tow (kg)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Abundance

Biomass

Thorny Skate - Shrimp Survey

Figure 42. Abundance and biomass of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Atlantic States 

Marine Fisheries Commission shrimp surveys from 1985-2015. Mean index in solid squares, 95% 

confidence interval in open squares.
116

Year

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Length (cm)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Figure 43. Minimum (red circles), 5th percentile (blue circles), mean (green squares), median 

(green circles), 95th percentile (blue circles) and maximum (red circles) total length (cm) of 

thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission shrimp 

surveys from 1992-2015. 
117

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.15

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.05

0.10

0.15

1992

1993

1994

1995

1997

STRATIFIED MEAN NUMBER PER TOW

STRATIFIED MEAN NUMBER PER TOW

1998

2008

2009

2010

2011

2002

2003

2004

2005

1997

1998

1999

1999

2000

2001

0.05

0.10 1996

0.05

0.10 1997

0.05

0.10 1998

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

2006

2007

Figure 44. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) length composition from the Atlantic States Marine 

Fisheries Commission shrimp surveys, 1992-2011.
118

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.05

0.10

0.15

2012

2013

2014

2015

Figure 45. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) length composition from the Atlantic States Marine 

Fisheries Commission shrimp surveys, 2012-2015.
119

Figure 46. Map of survey strata sampled by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries

(DMF) from Sosebee and Cadrin 2005.
120

Year

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Stratified Mean Number per Tow 0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

Spring 

Fall 

Year

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Stratified Mean Weight per Tow (kg)

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Abundance

Biomass

Thorny Skate

Figure 47. Abundance and biomass of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Massachusetts 

Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) spring and fall bottom trawl survey in state waters (Strata 11-

36).
121

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Stratified Mean Number per Tow 0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Stratified Mean Weight per Tow (kg)

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

Abundance

Biomass

Thorny Skate - Spring Survey

 

Figure 48. Abundance and biomass of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Massachusetts 

Division of Marine Fisheries spring bottom trawl surveys from 1978-2015. Mean index in solid 

squares, 95% confidence interval in open squares.
122

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Stratified Mean Number per Tow 0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Stratified Mean Weight per Tow (kg)

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

Abundance

Biomass

Thorny Skate - Fall Survey

Figure 49. Abundance and biomass of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Massachusetts 

Division of Marine Fisheries fall bottom trawl surveys from 1978-2015. Mean index in solid 

squares, 95% confidence interval in open squares.
123

Year

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Length (cm)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Figure 50. Minimum (red circles), 5th percentile (blue squares), mean (green squares), median 

(green circles), 95th percentile (blue circles) and maximum (red squares) total length (cm) of 

thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries spring 

bottom trawl surveys from 1978-2015.
124

Year

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Length (cm)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Figure 51. Minimum (red circles), 5th percentile (blue circles), mean (green squares), median 

(green circles), 95th percentile (blue circles) and maximum (red circles) total length (cm) of 

thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries fall 

bottom trawl surveys from 1978-2015.
125

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0.00

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0.00

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

Spring Survey

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

Fall Survey

STRATIFIED MEAN NUMBER PER TOW

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

STRATIFIED MEAN NUMBER PER TOW

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

Figure 52. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) length composition from the Massachusetts 

Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) spring and fall bottom trawl surveys, 1978-1987.
126

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0.00

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0.00

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

Spring Survey

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

Fall Survey

STRATIFIED MEAN NUMBER PER TOW

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

STRATIFIED MEAN NUMBER PER TOW

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

Figure 53. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) length composition from the Massachusetts 

Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) spring and fall bottom trawl surveys, 1988-1997.
127

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0.00

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0.00

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Spring Survey

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

Fall Survey

STRATIFIED MEAN NUMBER PER TOW

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

STRATIFIED MEAN NUMBER PER TOW

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

Figure 54. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) length composition from the Massachusetts 

Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) spring and fall bottom trawl surveys, 1998-2007.
128

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

LENGTH (cm)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Spring Survey

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Fall Survey

STRATIFIED MEAN NUMBER PER TOW

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

STRATIFIED MEAN NUMBER PER TOW

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Figure 55. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) length composition from the Massachusetts 

Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) spring and fall bottom trawl surveys, 2008-2015.
129

Figure 56. Map of the Maine – New Hampshire (MENH) survey area. There are 5 geographic 

regions and 4 depth strata.
130

Figure 57. Percent occurrence of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the Maine – New Hampshire 

(MENH) survey.
131

Figure 58. Relative abundance (top panel) and biomass (bottom panel) indices of thorny skate 

(Amblyraja radiata)from the Maine – New Hampshire (MENH) spring survey. The confidence 

intervals are 2 standard errors.
132

Figure 59. Relative abundance (top panel) and biomass (bottom panel) indices of thorny skate 

(Amblyraja radiata) from the Maine – New Hampshire (MENH) fall survey. The confidence 

intervals are 2 standard errors.
133

Figure 60. Length composition (stratified mean number per tow) of thorny skate (Amblyraja 

radiata) from the Maine – New Hampshire (MENH) spring survey.

Thorny Skate - Spring Surveys

Length (CM)

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

SP01

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

SP02

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

SP03

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

SP04

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

SP05

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

SP06

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

SP07

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

SP08

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

SP09

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

SP10

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

SP11

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

SP12

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

SP13

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

SP14

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

SP15
134

Figure 61. Length composition (stratified mean number per tow) of thorny skate (Amblyraja 

radiata) from the Maine – New Hampshire (MENH) fall survey.

Thorny Skate - Fall Surveys

Length (CM)

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

FL00

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

FL01

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

FL02

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

FL03

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

FL04

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

FL05

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

FL06

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

FL07

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

FL08

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

FL09

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

FL10

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

FL11

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

FL12

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

FL13

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

FL14
135

Figure 62. Distribution of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the Maine – New Hampshire 

(MENH) spring survey from 2001-2010.
136

Figure 63. Distribution of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the Maine – New Hampshire 

(MENH) spring survey from 2011-2015.
137

Figure 64. Distribution of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the Maine – New Hampshire 

(MENH) fall survey from 2001-2010.
138

Figure 65. Distribution of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the Maine – New Hampshire 

(MENH) fall survey from 2011-2014.
139

Figure 66. The Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) Northeast Cooperative Research 

Program bottom longline survey strata (NEFSC offshore bottom trawl survey strata 26, 27, 28, 

29, 36, 37) with rough (yellow) and smooth (blue) bottom type substrata. The dotted line 

designates parts of stratum areas not sampled in Canadian waters (29, 36) or those not sampled 

because of budget constraints (28, 29, 36).
140

Figure 67. Distribution of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) by number from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) bottom 

longline survey compared to the NEFSC bottom trawl survey for the spring surveys.
141

Figure 68. Distribution of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) by number from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) bottom 

longline survey compared to the NEFSC bottom trawl survey for the fall surveys.
142

Figure 69. Distribution of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) by weight from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) bottom 

longline survey compared to the NEFSC bottom trawl survey for the spring surveys.
143

Figure 70. Distribution of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) by weight from the bottom longline survey compared to the Northeast 

Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) bottom trawl survey for the fall surveys.
144

Figure 71. Length composition of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Northeast Fisheries 

Science Center (NEFSC) longline survey by smooth and rough bottom compared to the NEFSC 

bottom trawl survey from the same area.
145

Figure 72. Stratified mean number and weight per set for thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from 

the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) bottom longline survey (LLS) for all stations 

(top panel), rough stations (middle panel), and smooth stations (lower panel) during spring and 

fall 2014-2015.

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

4.00

4.50

5.00

2014.2 2014.4 2014.6 2014.8 2015 2015.2 2015.4 2015.6 2015.8 2016

CV

stratified mean 

Year

Thorny skate LLS - rough + smooth combined 

 num/tow

wt/tow

cv.num

cv.wt

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

2014.2 2014.4 2014.6 2014.8 2015 2015.2 2015.4 2015.6 2015.8 2016

CV

stratified mean 

Year

Thorny skate LLS - rough 

 num/tow

wt/tow

cv.num

cv.wt

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

0.80

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

0.80

0.90

2014.2 2014.4 2014.6 2014.8 2015 2015.2 2015.4 2015.6 2015.8 2016

CV

stratified mean 

Year

Thorny skate LLS - smooth 

 num/tow

wt/tow

cv.num

cv.wt
Procedures for Issuing Manuscripts

in the

Northeast Fisheries Science Center Reference Document (CRD) Series

Clearance

All manuscripts submitted for issuance as CRDs 

must have cleared the NEFSC’s manuscript/abstract/

webpage review process. If any author is not a federal 

employee, he/she will be required to sign an “NEFSC 

Release-of-Copyright Form.” If your manuscript 

includes material from another work which has been 

copyrighted, then you will need to work with the 

NEFSC’s Editorial Office to arrange for permission 

to use that material by securing release signatures on 

the “NEFSC Use-of-Copyrighted-Work Permission 

Form.” 

For more information, NEFSC authors should see 

the NEFSC’s online publication policy manual, “Manuscript/abstract/webpage preparation, review, and dissemination: NEFSC author’s guide to policy, process, 

and procedure,” located in the Publications/Manuscript 

Review section of the NEFSC intranet page.

Organization

Manuscripts must have an abstract and table of 

contents, and (if applicable) lists of figures and tables. 

As much as possible, use traditional scientific manuscript organization for sections: “Introduction,” “Study 

Area” and/or ”Experimental Apparatus,” “Methods,” 

“Results,” “Discussion,” “Conclusions,” “Acknowledgments,” and “Literature/References Cited.” 

Style

The CRD series is obligated to conform with the 

style contained in the current edition of the United 

States Government Printing Office Style Manual. That 

style manual is silent on many aspects of scientific 

manuscripts. The CRD series relies more on the CSE 

Style Manual. Manuscripts should be prepared to 

conform with these style manuals. 

The CRD series uses the American Fisheries Society’s guides to names of fishes, mollusks, and decapod 

crustaceans, the Society for Marine Mammalogy’s 

guide to names of marine mammals, the Biosciences 

Information Service’s guide to serial title abbreviations, 

and the ISO’s (International Standardization Organization) guide to statistical terms. 

For in-text citation, use the name-date system. A 

special effort should be made to ensure that all necessary bibliographic information is included in the list 

of cited works. Personal communications must include 

date, full name, and full mailing address of the contact.

Preparation

Once your document has cleared the review process, the Editorial Office will contact you with publication needs – for example, revised text (if necessary) and 

separate digital figures and tables if they are embedded 

in the document. Materials may be submitted to the 

Editorial Office as files on zip disks or CDs, email 

attachments, or intranet downloads. Text files should 

be in Microsoft Word, tables may be in Word or Excel, 

and graphics files may be in a variety of formats (JPG, 

GIF, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).

Production and Distribution

The Editorial Office will perform a copy-edit of 

the document and may request further revisions. The 

Editorial Office will develop the inside and outside 

front covers, the inside and outside back covers, and 

the title and bibliographic control pages of the document.

Once both the PDF (print) and Web versions of 

the CRD are ready, the Editorial Office will contact 

you to review both versions and submit corrections or 

changes before the document is posted online.

A number of organizations and individuals in the 

Northeast Region will be notified by e-mail of the 

availability of the document online. 
Research Communications Branch

Northeast Fisheries Science Center

National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA

166 Water St.

Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026

Publications and Reports

of the

Northeast Fisheries Science Center

The mission of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is “stewardship of living marine resources 

for the benefit of the nation through their science-based conservation and management and promotion of the 

health of their environment.” As the research arm of the NMFS’s Northeast Region, the Northeast Fisheries 

Science Center (NEFSC) supports the NMFS mission by “conducting ecosystem-based research and assessments of living marine resources, with a focus on the Northeast Shelf, to promote the recovery and long-term 

sustainability of these resources and to generate social and economic opportunities and benefits from their use.” 

Results of NEFSC research are largely reported in primary scientific media (e.g., anonymously-peer-reviewed 

scientific journals). However, to assist itself in providing data, information, and advice to its constituents, the 

NEFSC occasionally releases its results in its own media. Currently, there are three such media:

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE -- This series is issued irregularly. The series typically includes: data reports of 

long-term field or lab studies of important species or habitats; synthesis reports for important species or habitats; annual reports 

of overall assessment or monitoring programs; manuals describing program-wide surveying or experimental techniques; literature 

surveys of important species or habitat topics; proceedings and collected papers of scientific meetings; and indexed and/or annotated 

bibliographies. All issues receive internal scientific review and most issues receive technical and copy editing.

Northeast Fisheries Science Center Reference Document -- This series is issued irregularly. The series typically includes: data 

reports on field and lab studies; progress reports on experiments, monitoring, and assessments; background papers for, collected 

abstracts of, and/or summary reports of scientific meetings; and simple bibliographies. Issues receive internal scientific review and 

most issues receive copy editing.

Resource Survey Report (formerly Fishermen’s Report) -- This information report is a regularly-issued, quick-turnaround report on 

the distribution and relative abundance of selected living marine resources as derived from each of the NEFSC’s periodic research vessel surveys of the Northeast’s continental shelf. This report undergoes internal review, but receives no technical or copy editing.

TO OBTAIN A COPY of a NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE or a Northeast Fisheries Science Center Reference Document, 

either contact the NEFSC Editorial Office (166 Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026; 508-495-2350) or consult the NEFSC webpage 

on “Reports and Publications” (http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/nefsc/publications/). To access Resource Survey Report, consult the Ecosystem 

Surveys Branch webpage (http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/femad/ecosurvey/mainpage/).

ANY USE OF TRADE OR BRAND NAMES IN ANY NEFSC PUBLICATION OR REPORT DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT.

MEDIA

 MAIL