NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-176

Essential Fish Habitat Source Document:

Rosette Skate,

Leucoraja garmani virginica,

Life History and Habitat Characteristics

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service

Northeast Region

Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Woods Hole, Massachusetts

March 2003
155. Food of Northwest Atlantic Fishes and Two Common Species of Squid. By Ray E. Bowman, Charles E. Stillwell, William

L. Michaels, and Marvin D. Grosslein. January 2000. xiv + 138 p., 1 fig., 7 tables, 2 app. NTIS Access. No. PB2000-106735.

156. Proceedings of the Summer Flounder Aging Workshop, 1-2 February 1999, Woods Hole, Massachusetts. By George

R. Bolz, James Patrick Monaghan, Jr., Kathy L. Lang, Randall W. Gregory, and Jay M. Burnett. May 2000. v + 15 p., 5 figs.,

5 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB2000-107403.

157. Contaminant Levels in Muscle of Four Species of Recreational Fish from the New York Bight Apex. By Ashok D.

Deshpande, Andrew F.J. Draxler, Vincent S. Zdanowicz, Mary E. Schrock, Anthony J. Paulson, Thomas W. Finneran, Beth

L. Sharack, Kathy Corbo, Linda Arlen, Elizabeth A. Leimburg, Bruce W. Dockum, Robert A. Pikanowski, Brian May, and

Lisa B. Rosman. June 2000. xxii + 99 p., 6 figs., 80 tables, 3 app., glossary. NTIS Access. No. PB2001-107346.

158. A Framework for Monitoring and Assessing Socioeconomics and Governance of Large Marine Ecosystems. By

Jon G. Sutinen, editor, with contributors (listed alphabetically) Patricia Clay, Christopher L. Dyer, Steven F. Edwards, John

Gates, Tom A. Grigalunas, Timothy Hennessey, Lawrence Juda, Andrew W. Kitts, Philip N. Logan, John J. Poggie, Jr.,

Barbara Pollard Rountree, Scott R. Steinback, Eric M. Thunberg, Harold F. Upton, and John B. Walden. August 2000. v

+ 32 p., 4 figs., 1 table, glossary. NTIS Access. No. PB2001-106847.

159. An Overview and History of the Food Web Dynamics Program of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Woods

Hole, Massachusetts. By Jason S. Link and Frank P. Almeida. October 2000. iv + 60 p., 20 figs., 18 tables, 1 app. NTIS

Access. No. PB2001-103996.

160. Measuring Technical Efficiency and Capacity in Fisheries by Data Envelopment Analysis Using the General

Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS): A Workbook. By John B. Walden and James E. Kirkley. October 2000. iii + 15 p.,

9 figs., 5 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB2001-106502.

161. Demersal Fish and American Lobster Diets in the Lower Hudson - Raritan Estuary. By Frank W. Steimle, Robert

A. Pikanowski, Donald G. McMillan, Christine A. Zetlin, and Stuart J. Wilk. November 2000. vii + 106 p., 24 figs., 51 tables.

NTIS Access. No. PB2002-105456.

162. U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Marine Mammal Stock Assessments – 2000. Edited by Gordon T. Waring, Janeen

M. Quintal, and Steven L. Swartz, with contributions from (listed alphabetically) Neilo B. Barros, Phillip J. Clapham, Timothy

V.N. Cole, Carol P. Fairfield, Larry J. Hansen, Keith D. Mullin, Daniel K. Odell, Debra L. Palka, Marjorie C. Rossman, U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, Randall S. Wells, and Cynthia Yeung. November 2000. ix + 303 p., 43 figs., 55 tables, 3 app. NTIS

Access. No. PB2001-104091.

163. Essential Fish Habitat Source Document: Red Deepsea Crab, Chaceon (Geryon) quinquedens, Life History and

Habitat Characteristics. By Frank W. Steimle, Christine A. Zetlin, and Sukwoo Chang. January 2001. v + 27 p., 8 figs.,

1 table. NTIS Access. No. PB2001-103542.

164. An Overview of the Social and Economic Survey Administered during Round II of the Northeast Multispecies Fishery

Disaster Assistance Program. By Julia Olson and Patricia M. Clay. December 2001. v + 69 p., 3 figs., 18 tables, 2 app.

NTIS Access. No. PB2002-105406.

165. A Baseline Socioeconomic Study of Massachusetts’ Marine Recreational Fisheries. By Ronald J. Salz, David K.

Loomis, Michael R. Ross, and Scott R. Steinback. December 2001. viii + 129 p., 1 fig., 81 tables, 4 app. NTIS Access. No.

PB2002-108348.

166. Report on the Third Northwest Atlantic Herring Acoustic Workshop, University of Maine Darling Marine Center,

Walpole, Maine, March 13-14, 2001. By William L. Michaels, editor and coconvenor, and Philip Yund, coconvenor.

December 2001. iv + 18 p., 14 figs., 2 app. NTIS Access. No. PB2003-101556.

Recent Issues in This Series:
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Donald L. Evans, Secretary

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., USN (ret.), Administrator

National Marine Fisheries Service

William T. Hogarth, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries

Northeast Region

Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Woods Hole, Massachusetts

March 2003

Essential Fish Habitat Source Document:

Rosette Skate, Leucoraja garmani virginica,

Life History and Habitat Characteristics

David B. Packer, Christine A. Zetlin, and Joseph J. Vitaliano

National Marine Fisheries Serv., James J. Howard Marine Sciences Lab., 74 Magruder Rd., Highlands, NJ 07732

This series represents a secondary level of scientific publishing. All issues employ

thorough internal scientific review; some issues employ external scientific review.

Reviews are -- by design -- transparent collegial reviews, not anonymous peer

reviews. All issues may be cited in formal scientific communications.

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-176
Editorial Notes on Issues 122-152, 163, and 173-179

in the

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE Series

Editorial Production

For Issues 122-152, 163, and 173-179, staff of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center's (NEFSC's) Ecosystems Processes

Division have largely assumed the role of staff of the NEFSC's Editorial Office for technical and copy editing, type

composition, and page layout. Other than the four covers (inside and outside, front and back) and first two preliminary

pages, all preprinting editorial production has been performed by, and all credit for such production rightfully belongs

to, the staff of the Ecosystems Processes Division.

Internet Availability

Issues 122-152, 163, and 173-179 have been copublished, i.e., both as paper copies and as Web postings. All Web postings

are available at: www.nefsc.noaa.gov/nefsc/habitat/efh. Also, all Web postings are in "PDF" format.

Information Updating

By federal regulation, all information specific to Issues 122-152, 163, and 173-179 must be updated at least every five years.

All official updates will appear in the Web postings. Paper copies will be reissued only when and if new information

associated with Issues 122-152, 163, and 173-179 is significant enough to warrant a reprinting of a given issue. All updated

and/or reprinted issues will retain the original issue number, but bear a "Revised (Month Year)" label.

Species Names

The NMFS Northeast Region’s policy on the use of species names in all technical communications is generally to follow

the American Fisheries Society’s lists of scientific and common names for fishes (i.e., Robins et al. 1991a

), mollusks (i.e.,

Turgeon et al. 1998b), and decapod crustaceans (i.e., Williams et al. 1989c), and to follow the Society for Marine

Mammalogy's guidance on scientific and common names for marine mammals (i.e., Rice 1998d

). Exceptions to this policy

occur when there are subsequent compelling revisions in the classifications of species, resulting in changes in the names

of species (e.g., Cooper and Chapleau 1998e

; McEachran and Dunn 1998f).

a

Robins, C.R. (chair); Bailey, R.M.; Bond, C.E.; Brooker, J.R.; Lachner, E.A.; Lea, R.N.; Scott, W.B. 1991. Common and scientific names

of fishes from the United States and Canada. 5th ed. Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 20; 183 p. b

Turgeon, D.D. (chair); Quinn, J.F., Jr.; Bogan, A.E.; Coan, E.V.; Hochberg, F.G.; Lyons, W.G.; Mikkelsen, P.M.; Neves, R.J.; Roper, C.F.E.;

Rosenberg, G.; Roth, B.; Scheltema, A.; Thompson, F.G.; Vecchione, M.; Williams, J.D. 1998. Common and scientific names of aquatic

invertebrates from the United States and Canada: mollusks. 2nd ed. Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 26; 526 p. c

Williams, A.B. (chair); Abele, L.G.; Felder, D.L.; Hobbs, H.H., Jr.; Manning, R.B.; McLaughlin, P.A.; Pérez Farfante, I. 1989. Common

and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the United States and Canada: decapod crustaceans. Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ.

17; 77 p. d

Rice, D.W. 1998. Marine mammals of the world: systematics and distribution. Soc. Mar. Mammal. Spec. Publ. 4; 231 p. e

Cooper, J.A.; Chapleau, F. 1998. Monophyly and interrelationships of the family Pleuronectidae (Pleuronectiformes), with a revised

classification. Fish. Bull. (U.S.) 96:686-726. f

McEachran, J.D.; Dunn, K.A. 1998. Phylogenetic analysis of skates, a morphologically conservative clade of elasmobranchs

(Chondrichthyes: Rajidae). Copeia 1998(2):271-290.
Page iii 

FOREWORD 

One of the greatest long-term threats to the viability of 

commercial and recreational fisheries is the continuing 

loss of marine, estuarine, and other aquatic habitats. 

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 

Management Act (October 11, 1996) 

The long-term viability of living marine resources 

depends on protection of their habitat. 

NMFS Strategic Plan for Fisheries 

Research (February 1998) 

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 

Management Act (MSFCMA), which was reauthorized 

and amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act (1996), 

requires the eight regional fishery management councils 

to describe and identify essential fish habitat (EFH) in 

their respective regions, to specify actions to conserve 

and enhance that EFH, and to minimize the adverse 

effects of fishing on EFH. Congress defined EFH as 

“those waters and substrate necessary to fish for 

spawning, breeding, feeding or growth to maturity.” The 

MSFCMA requires NMFS to assist the regional fishery 

management councils in the implementation of EFH in 

their respective fishery management plans. 

NMFS has taken a broad view of habitat as the area 

used by fish throughout their life cycle. Fish use habitat 

for spawning, feeding, nursery, migration, and shelter, but 

most habitats provide only a subset of these functions. 

Fish may change habitats with changes in life history 

stage, seasonal and geographic distributions, abundance, 

and interactions with other species. The type of habitat, 

as well as its attributes and functions, are important for 

sustaining the production of managed species. 

The Northeast Fisheries Science Center compiled the 

available information on the distribution, abundance, and 

habitat requirements for each of the species managed by 

the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 

Councils. That information is presented in this series of 

38 EFH species reports (plus one consolidated methods 

report). The EFH species reports are a survey of the 

important literature as well as original analyses of fisheryJAMES J. HOWARD MARINE SCIENCES LABORATORY

HIGHLANDS, NEW JERSEY

SEPTEMBER 1999 

independent data sets from NMFS and several coastal 

states. The species reports are also the source for the 

current EFH designations by the New England and MidAtlantic Fishery Management Councils, and 

understandably have begun to be referred to as the “EFH 

source documents.” 

NMFS provided guidance to the regional fishery 

management councils for identifying and describing EFH 

of their managed species. Consistent with this guidance, 

the species reports present information on current and 

historic stock sizes, geographic range, and the period and 

location of major life history stages. The habitats of 

managed species are described by the physical, chemical, 

and biological components of the ecosystem where the 

species occur. Information on the habitat requirements is 

provided for each life history stage, and it includes, where 

available, habitat and environmental variables that control 

or limit distribution, abundance, growth, reproduction, 

mortality, and productivity. 

Identifying and describing EFH are the first steps in 

the process of protecting, conserving, and enhancing 

essential habitats of the managed species. Ultimately, 

NMFS, the regional fishery management councils, fishing 

participants, Federal and state agencies, and other 

organizations will have to cooperate to achieve the habitat 

goals established by the MSFCMA. 

A historical note: the EFH species reports effectively 

recommence a series of reports published by the NMFS 

Sandy Hook (New Jersey) Laboratory (now formally 

known as the James J. Howard Marine Sciences 

Laboratory) from 1977 to 1982. These reports, which 

were formally labeled as Sandy Hook Laboratory 

Technical Series Reports, but informally known as 

“Sandy Hook Bluebooks,” summarized biological and 

fisheries data for 18 economically important species. The 

fact that the bluebooks continue to be used two decades 

after their publication persuaded us to make their 

successors – the 38 EFH source documents – available to 

the public through publication in the NOAA Technical 

Memorandum NMFS-NE series. 

JEFFREY N. CROSS, (FORMER) CHIEF

ECOSYSTEMS PROCESSES DIVISION

NORTHEAST FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER
Page iv 
Page v 

Contents 

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 

Life History ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 

Geographical Distribution................................................................................................................................................................. 1 

Habitat Characteristics...................................................................................................................................................................... 2 

Status of the Stocks........................................................................................................................................................................... 2 

Research Needs................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 

Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................................................................................ 3 

References Cited............................................................................................................................................................................... 3 

Tables 

Table 1. Summary of habitat parameters for rosette skate, based on the pertinent literature and most recent NEFSC surveys......5

 

Figures 

Figure 1. The rosette skate, Leucoraja garmani virginica (McEachran 1977), male..................................................................... 6 

Figure 2. Abundance (% occurrence) of the major prey items of rosette skate collected during NEFSC bottom trawl surveys.... 7 

Figure 3. Distribution of juvenile rosette skate collected during winter NEFSC bottom trawl surveys......................................... 8 

Figure 4. Distribution and abundance of juvenile rosette skate collected during spring NEFSC bottom trawl surveys................. 9 

Figure 5. Distribution of juvenile rosette skate collected during summer NEFSC bottom trawl surveys .................................... 10 

Figure 6. Distribution and abundance of juvenile rosette skate collected during fall NEFSC bottom trawl surveys ................... 11 

Figure 7. Distribution of adult rosette skate collected during winter NEFSC bottom trawl surveys............................................ 12 

Figure 8. Distribution and abundance of adult rosette skate collected during spring NEFSC bottom trawl surveys ................... 13 

Figure 9. Distribution and abundance of adult rosette skate collected during fall NEFSC bottom trawl surveys........................ 14 

Figure 10. Spring/fall distributions of juveniles relative to bottom temperature, depth, and salinity based on NEFSC surveys ... 15 

Figure 11. NEFSC spring survey index of rosette skate biomass and commercial landings of seven species skate complex........ 17 

Page 1 

INTRODUCTION 

The rosette skate [Leucoraja garmani (McEachran 

1977); formerly Raja garmani, see McEachran and Dunn 

(1998); Figure 1] occurs from Nantucket Shoals to the 

Dry Tortugas, Florida (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953a, b; 

Bullis and Thompson 1965; McEachran and Musick 

1975; McEachran 1977; Stehmann and McEachran 1978). 

McEachran and Musick (1975) found that between 

Nantucket Shoals and Cape Hatteras it was most abundant 

in the southern section of the Chesapeake Bight. 

Populations north of Cape Hatteras have been considered 

as the subspecies L. garmani virginica while those 

between the Cape and the Dry Tortugas have been 

considered as L. g. garmani, but the two may in fact be 

distinct species (McEachran 1977; McEachran 2002). 

McEachran (1977) synonymized L. lentiginosa with the 

rosette skate but later considered the two species separate 

(as noted in McEachran [2002]). This report will focus 

mostly on L. g. virginica. 

McEachran (2002) distinguishes rosette skates from 

other skates in the Gulf of Maine by its rosette color 

pattern. The dorsal side is buff or brown and freckled 

with small light and dark spots forming dark rosettes 

surrounding a dark central spot. The ventral side is white 

to yellowish white (McEachran 2002). 

LIFE HISTORY 

The single fertilized egg is encapsulated in a leathery, 

amber-colored egg capsule. The egg capsules are 

rectangular in shape, 37-43 mm long and 26-30 mm wide, 

with a moderately short horn at each corner (McEachran 

1970). The horns are shorter than the remainder of the 

capsule and the posterior horns are longer than the 

anterior horns. The walls of the capsule are smooth but 

have longitudinal striations. North of Cape Hatteras the 

egg capsules are found in mature females year-round but 

are most frequent during the summer (McEachran 1970). 

Rosette skate grow to a maximum known size of 44.5 

cm TL, and maximum size and size at maturity increase 

with latitude (McEachran 1977). McEachran (1977) 

reported that north of Cape Hatteras rosette skate matures 

between 33.5-43.9 cm TL and south of the Cape it 

matures between 25.0-31.4 cm TL. Based on the 

predictive equations from Frisk et al. (2001) and the 

Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) survey 

maximum observed length of 57 cm TL, Lmat is estimated 

at 46 cm TL and Amat is estimated at 4 years (Northeast 

Fisheries Science Center 2000b). 

 The major prey items of rosette skate include the 

shrimp Crangon septemspinosa, Cancer and galatheoid 

crabs, amphipods, polychaetes, copepods, cumaceans, 

squids, octopods, and small fishes (Stehmann and 

McEachran 1978; Bowman et al. 2000; Figure 2). 

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 

 Bigelow and Schroeder (1953a) and McEachran 

(2002) consider this species rare in the Gulf of Maine. 

The only reason that Bigelow and Schroeder (1953a) 

mention it is that one specimen was found in 1950 at 95 

m depth southeast of the Nantucket Lightship (40E05N N, 

69E22N W). McEachran and Musick (1975), using data 

obtained from the 1967-1970 NEFSC bottom trawl 

surveys, found no rosette skate on the eastern slope of 

Georges Bank. NEFSC bottom trawl surveys from other 

years (see below) did catch them on the southern edge of 

Georges Bank. Schroeder (1955) found it to be fairly 

abundant from the eastern slope of Georges Bank to Cape 

Charles, Virginia. Struhsaker (1969) found that rosette 

skate was very abundant along the outer continental shelf 

from Cape Hatteras to Florida. In the Straits of Florida it 

is found on Pourtates Terrace (Staiger 1970). 

JUVENILES 

 NEFSC bottom trawl surveys [see Reid et al. (1999) 

for details] captured juvenile (< 45 cm TL) rosette skate 

year-round, mostly along the outer continental shelf. 

(Note that winter and summer distributions are presented 

as presence/absence data, precluding a discussion of 

abundances.) In winter, large concentrations of juveniles 

were found between the 60 and 200 m depth contours 

from the Hudson Canyon to Cape Hatteras. A few were 

found on the southern edge of Georges Bank and near 

Cape Cod (Figure 3). In spring they were also found 

offshore in low numbers from the Hudson Canyon to 

Cape Hatteras. A few were found on the 200 m depth 

contour near southern New England and in the Gulf of 

Maine near the Bay of Fundy (Figure 4). Very few were 

present in summer, mostly near the 200 m depth contour 

near Cape Hatteras, as well as near the Hudson Canyon 

and on the outer continental shelf near southern New 

England (Figure 5). In the fall, rosette skate juveniles 

were again concentrated on the outer continental shelf 

from the Hudson Canyon to south of Cape Hatteras 

(Figure 6). A few were found near southern New 

England. 

ADULTS 

The overall numbers and presence of adult rosette 

skate (> 46 cm TL) collected during the NEFSC bottom 

trawl surveys were much lower than for juveniles; only a 

few individuals were found on the outer continental shelf 

near the 200 m depth contour near the Hudson Canyon or 

Cape Hatteras (Figures 7-9). (Again, winter distributions 

are presented as presence/absence data, precluding a 

discussion of abundances; there were no adults present in 

the summer surveys.) 
Page 2 

HABITAT CHARACTERISTICS 

 Information on the habitat requirements and 

preferences of rosette skate (based on both the pertinent 

literature and the most recent NEFSC and state surveys) 

are presented here and summarized in Table 1. 

 Rosette skate is found on soft bottoms, including 

sand to mud bottoms (Bullis and Thompson 1965; 

Struhsaker 1969), mud with echinoid and ophiuroid 

fragments, and shell and pterpod ooze (Staiger 1970). 

 It occurs from 33-530 m but is most common 

between 74-274 m (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953b; Bullis 

and Thompson 1965; Schroeder 1955; McEachran and 

Musick 1975). In the southern part of its range rosette 

skate may have a more limited depth range (Bigelow and 

Schroeder 1953b). It has been reported from the eastern 

slope of Georges Bank to Cape Charles, Virginia at < 366 

m (Schroeder 1955). On the Chesapeake Bight, 

McEachran and Musick (1975) found it between 33-196 

m and generally > 73 m. It appeared to move shoreward 

in the summer. Between Cape Hatteras and Georgia it 

was found at depths between 66-123 m, off Georgia and 

northern Florida it occurred at 77-155 m, and from 

northern Florida to the Straits of Florida it was found 

mostly at depths between 183-366 m (McEachran and 

Musick 1975). Staiger (1970) reported that rosette skate 

was found between the 119-366 m isobaths on Pourtales 

Terrace, and north of Pourtales Terrace it was found in 

183 m up the coast of Florida. 

 The spring and fall distributions of juvenile rosette 

skate relative to bottom depth based on 1963-2002 

NEFSC bottom trawl surveys from the Gulf of Maine to 

Cape Hatteras are shown in Figure 10. In spring their 

depth range was spread between 31-400 m, while in the 

fall they were found from 11-500 m, with around 35-40% 

at 101-140 m. 

 Bigelow and Schroeder (1953b) reported its 

temperature range as 5.3-15EC. On the Chesapeake Bight, 

McEachran and Musick (1975) found it between 6-17EC 

but was most abundant at temperatures between 9-13EC. 

Between Cape Hatteras and Georgia it was found at 

17EC, off Georgia and northern Florida it was found 

between 11-19EC, and from northern Florida to the Straits 

of Florida it was captured at 17EC (McEachran and 

Musick 1975). Edwards et al. (1962) captured it off 

Winter Quarter (37E34N - 37E50N N) at 11-13EC and off 

Albermarle Sound, North Carolina at 12-14EC. It is found 

in warmer water in the southern part of its range (Bigelow 

and Schroeder 1953b). 

The spring and fall distributions of juvenile rosette 

skate relative to bottom water temperature based on 

NEFSC bottom trawl surveys are also shown in Figure 

10. In spring their temperature range was between 5E to 

about 21EC, with most between 10-12EC. In the fall 

juvenile rosette skate were found over a temperature 

range of approximately 6-24EC, with the majority 

between 12-14EC. 

 The spring and fall distributions of juvenile rosette 

skate relative to salinity based on NEFSC bottom trawl 

surveys are again shown in Figure 10. During spring they 

were found over a salinity range of 32-36 ppt with the 

majority at 35-36 ppt. In the fall they were found over a 

salinity range of 31-36 ppt, with around 50% at 36 ppt. 

 (There is insufficient data to discuss the seasonal 

distributions of adult rosette skate relative to bottom 

temperature, depth, and salinity.) 

STATUS OF THE STOCKS 

 The following section is based on Northeast Fisheries 

Science Center (2000a, b). 

 The principal commercial fishing method used to 

catch all seven species of skates [rosette, clearnose (Raja 

eglanteria), little (Leucoraja erinacea), barndoor

(Dipturus laevis), winter (Leucoraja ocellata), thorny, 

(Raja eglanteria), smooth (Malacoraja senta)] is otter 

trawling. Skates are frequently taken as bycatch during 

groundfish trawling and scallop dredge operations and 

discarded recreational and foreign landings are currently 

insignificant, at < 1% of the total 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 during the 1960s. Landings are not 

reported by species, with over 99% of the landings 

reported as “unclassified skates.” Skate landings reached 

9,500 mt in 1969, but declined quickly during the 1970s, 

falling to 800 mt in 1981 (Figure 11). Landings have 

since increased substantially, partially in response to 

increased demand for lobster bait, and more significantly, 

to the increased export market for skate wings. Wings are 

taken from winter and thorny skates, the two species 

currently used for human consumption. Bait landings are 

presumed to be primarily from little skate, based on areas 

fished and known species distribution patterns. Landings 

for all skates increased to 12,900 mt in 1993 and then 

declined somewhat to 7,200 mt in 1995. Landings have 

increased again since 1995, and the 1998 reported 

commercial landings of 17,000 mt were the highest on 

record (Figure 11). 

 The biomass for the seven skate species is at a 

medium level of abundance. For the aggregate complex, 

the NEFSC spring survey index of biomass was relatively 

constant from 1968-1980, then increased significantly to 

peak levels in the mid- to late 1980s. The index of skate 

complex biomass then declined steadily until 1994, but 

has recently increased again. The large increase in skate 

biomass in the mid- to late 1980s was dominated by little 

and winter skate. The survey index of rosette skate 

biomass was at a peak during 1975-1980, before 

declining through 1986 (Figure 11). The abundance of 

rosette skate has been increasing since 1986 (Figure 11), 

although the recent increase in aggregate skate biomass 
Page 3 

has been due to an increase in all the small sized skates (< 

100 cm max. length: rosette, clearnose, little, and 

smooth), primarily little skate. Rosette skate is not 

considered to be overfished (Northeast Fisheries Science 

Center 2000a, b). 

RESEARCH NEEDS 

 Imprecise reporting of fishery statistics where several 

skate species are lumped together under one category 

(e.g., “unclassified skates” or “skates spp.”) can mask 

basic changes in community structure and profound 

reduction in populations of larger, slower growing species 

(Dulvy et al. 2000; Musick et al. 2000). Thus, it is 

important to have fishery-independent data on skates 

where the individual species are reported. In addition, for 

rosette skate there are still questions regarding the 

taxonomy of the various east coast populations, and 

studies of stock structure are needed to identify if there 

are any unit stocks. 

 Northeast Fisheries Science Center (2000b) also 

suggests the following research needs: 

• More life history data is needed, as well as more 

studies on age, growth, maturity, and fecundity. 

• Explore possible stock-recruit relationships by 

examination of NEFSC survey data. 

• Investigate trophic interactions between skate species 

in the complex, and between skates and other 

groundfish. 

• Investigate the influence of annual changes in water 

temperature or other environmental factors on shifts 

in the range and distribution of the species in the 

skate complex, and establish the bathymetric 

distribution of the species in the complex in the 

northwest Atlantic. 

• Investigate historical NEFSC survey data from the 

R/V Albatross III during 1948-1962 when they 

become available, as they may provide valuable 

historical context for long-term trends in skate 

biomass. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

 The authors thank Barry Shafer, John McCarthy, 

Tom Finneran, and Annette Kalbach for producing the 

maps and graphics. Thanks also to Claire Steimle and 

Judy Berrien for literature reviews and interlibrary loans. 

Frank Almeida and Kathy Sosebee of the NEFSC Woods 

Hole provided much needed information, input, and 

reviews. 

REFERENCES CITED 

Bigelow, H.B. and W.C. Schroeder. 1953a. Fishes of the 

Gulf of Maine. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv., Fish. Bull. 53. 

577 p. 

Bigelow, H.B. and W.C. Schroeder. 1953b. Fishes of the 

western North Atlantic. Part 2. Sawfishes, 

guitarfishes, skates, and rays [and] chimaeroids. Mem. 

Sears Foundation Mar. Res., Yale Univ. 1. 588 p. 

Bowman, R.E., C.E. Stillwell, W.L. Michaels, and M.D. 

Grosslein. 2000. Food of northwest Atlantic fishes 

and two species of squid. NOAA Tech. Mem. NMFSNE-155. 138 p. 

Bullis, H.R., Jr. and J.R. Thompson. 1965. Collections by 

the exploratory fishing vessels Oregon, Silver Bay, 

Combat, and Pelican made during 1956-1960 in the 

southwestern North Atlantic. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. 

Spec. Sci. Rep. Fish. 510. 130 p. 

Dulvy, N.K., J.D. Metcalfe, J. Glanville, M.G. Pawson, 

and J.D. Reynolds. 2000. Fishery stability, local 

extinctions, and shifts in community structure in 

skates. Conserv. Biol. 14: 283-293. 

Edwards, R.L., R. Livingstone, Jr., and P.E. Hamer. 1962. 

Winter water temperatures and an annotated list of 

fishes - Nantucket Shoals to Cape Hatteras. Albatross 

III Cruise no. 126. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. Spec. Sci. 

Rep. Fish. 397. 31 p. 

Frisk, M.G., T.J. Miller, and M.J. Fogarty. 2001. 

Estimation and analysis of biological parameters in 

elasmobranch fishes: a comparative life history study. 

Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 58: 969-981. 

McEachran, J.D. 1970. Egg capsules and reproductive 

biology of the skate Raja garmani (Pisces: Rajidae). 

Copeia 1970: 197-199. 

McEachran, J.D. 1977. Variation in Raja garmani and the 

status of Raja lentiginosa (Pisces: Rajidae). Bull. Mar. 

Sci. 27: 423-439. 

McEachran, J.D. 2002. Skates. Family Rajidae. In B.B. 

Collette and G. Klein-MacPhee eds. Bigelow and 

Schroeder’s fishes of the Gulf of Maine. 3rd Edition. 

p. 60-75. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, 

DC. 748 p. 

McEachran, J.D. and K.A. Dunn. 1998. Phylogenetic 

analysis of skates, a morphologically conservative 

clade of elasmobranchs (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae). 

Copeia 1998 (2): 271-290. 

McEachran, J.D. and J.A. Musick. 1975. Distribution and 

relative abundance of seven species of skates (Pisces: 

Rajidae) which occur between Nova Scotia and Cape 

Hatteras. Fish. Bull. (U.S.) 73: 110-136. 

Musick, J.A., G. Burgess, G. Cailliet, M. Camhi, and S. 

Fordham. 2000. Management of sharks and their 

relatives (Elasmobranchii). Fisheries 25: 9-13. 

Northeast Fisheries Science Center. 2000a. Report of the 

30th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop 

(30th SAW): Public Review Workshop. Northeast 

Fish. Sci. Cent. Ref. Doc. 00-04. 53 p. 
Page 4 

Northeast Fisheries Science Center. 2000b. Report of the 

30th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop 

(30th SAW): Stock Assessment Review Committee 

(SARC) consensus summary of assessments. 

Northeast Fish. Sci. Cent. Ref. Doc. 00-03. 477 p. 

Reid, R., F. Almeida, and C. Zetlin. 1999. Essential fish 

habitat source document: Fishery independent 

surveys, data sources, and methods. NOAA Tech. 

Mem. NMFS-NE-122. 40 p. 

Schroeder, W.C. 1955. Report on the results of 

exploratory otter-trawling alon the continental shelf 

and slope between Nova Scotia and Virginia during 

the summer of 1952 and 1953. Deep-Sea Res. 3 

(Suppl.): 358-372. 

Staiger, J.C. 1970. The distribution of the benthic fishes 

found below two hundred meters in the Straits of 

Florida. Ph.D. dissertation, Univ. Miami, Miami, FL. 

245 p. 

Stehmann, M. and J.D. McEachran. 1978. Rajidae. In

FAO species identifcation sheets for fishery purposes. 

Western Central Atlantic (Fishing Area 31). W. 

Fischer ed. FAO, Rome. 

Struhsaker, P. 1969. Demersal fish resources: 

Composition, distribution, and commercial potential 

of the Continental Shelf stocks off Southeastern 

United States. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. Fish. Ind. Res. 4: 

261-300. 
Page 5 

Table 1. Summary of habitat parameters for rosette skate, based on the pertinent literature and most recent NEFSC 

surveys1

. 

Depth Temperature Substrate/Salinity Prey 

Occurs from 33-530 m but is most 

common between 74-274 m. In 

southern part of its range rosette 

skate may have a more limited 

depth range. Reported from 

eastern slope of Georges Bank to 

Cape Charles, Virginia at < 366 

m. On the Chesapeake Bight, 

found it between 33-196 m and 

generally > 73 m; appeared to 

move shoreward in summer. 

Between Cape Hatteras and 

Georgia it was found between 66-

123 m, off Georgia and northern 

Florida occurred at 77-155 m, 

from northern Florida to the 

Straits of Florida was found 

mostly at depths between 183-366 

m. On Pourtales Terrace found 

between 119-366 m isobaths, 

north of Pourtales Terrace found 

in 183 m up the coast of Florida. 

Spring and fall distributions of 

juveniles relative to bottom depth 

based on 1963-2002 NEFSC 

bottom trawl surveys from Gulf of 

Maine to Cape Hatteras: 

Spring. Range spread between 31-

400 m. 

Fall. Range of 11-500 m, around 

35-40% at 101-140 m. 

Reported temperature range of 

5.3-15EC. On the Chesapeake 

Bight, captured between 6-17EC 

but most abundant between 9-

13EC. Between Cape Hatteras 

and Georgia found at 17EC, off 

Georgia and northern Florida 

found between 11-19EC, from 

northern Florida to the Straits of 

Florida captured at 17EC. 

Captured off Winter Quarter 

(37E34N - 37E50N N) at 11-13EC 

and off Albermarle Sound, 

North Carolina at 12-14EC. 

Found in warmer water in the 

southern part of its range. 

Spring and fall distributions of 

juveniles relative to bottom 

water temperature based on 

1963-2002 NEFSC bottom 

trawl surveys from Gulf of 

Maine to Cape Hatteras: 

Spring. Range of between 5E to 

about 21EC, most between 10-

12EC. 

Fall. Range of approximately 6-

24EC, majority between 12-

14EC. 

Soft bottoms, 

including sand to 

mud bottoms, mud 

with echinoid and 

ophiuroid 

fragments, and 

shell and pterpod 

ooze. 

Spring and fall 

distributions of 

juveniles relative 

to salinity based 

on 1963-2002 

NEFSC bottom 

trawl surveys from 

Gulf of Maine to 

Cape Hatteras: 

Spring. Range of 

32-36 ppt, 

majority at 35-36 

ppt. 

Fall. Range of 31-

36 ppt, with 

around 50% at 36 

ppt. 

Polychaetes, 

copepods, 

cumaceans, 

amphipods, the 

shrimp Crangon 

septemspinosa, 

Cancer and 

galatheoid crabs, 

squids, 

octopods, and 

small fishes. 

1

 Bigelow and Schroeder (1953b); Schroeder (1955); Edwards et al. (1962); Bullis and Thompson (1965); Struhsaker 

(1969); Staiger (1970); McEachran and Musick (1975); Stehmann and McEachran (1978); Bowman et al. 2000; 1963-

2002 NEFSC trawl surveys.
Page 6 

Figure 1. The rosette skate, Leucoraja garmani virginica (McEachran 1977), male, from Bigelow and Schroeder 

(1953b).
Page 7 

Figure 2. Abundance (% occurrence) of the major prey items of rosette skate collected during NEFSC bottom trawl 

surveys from 1973-1980 and 1981-1990. Methods for sampling, processing, and analysis of samples differed between 

the time periods [see Reid et al. (1999) for details]. 

Amphipoda 20.8%

Polychaeta 12.5%

Crustacea 20.8%

Fish 4.2 %

Decapoda 39.6 %

Mollusca 2.1 %

1973 – 1980 

n = 16

Amphipoda 9.1%

Polychaeta 27.3%

Crustacea shrimp 18.2%

Crustacea 9.1%

Decapoda 36.4 %

1981 – 1990 

n = 8
Page 8 

Rosette Skate

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Surveys

(1964 - 2002)

Number per tow

Winter/juveniles

(<= 45 cm)

Present

Figure 3. Distribution of juvenile rosette skate collected during winter NEFSC bottom trawl surveys [1964-2002, all 

years combined; see Reid et al. (1999) for details]. Survey stations where juveniles were not found are not shown. 
Page 9 

Rosette Skate

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Surveys

(1968 - 2002)

Spring/juveniles

(<= 45 cm)

NPTOW

1 - 10

11 - 100

101 - 1000

> 1000

Number per tow

Figure 4. Distribution and abundance of juvenile rosette skate collected during spring NEFSC bottom trawl surveys 

[1968-2002, all years combined; see Reid et al. (1999) for details].
Page 10 

Rosette Skate

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Surveys

(1963 - 1995)

Number per tow

Summer/juveniles

 (<= 45 cm)

Present

Figure 5. Distribution of juvenile rosette skate collected during summer NEFSC bottom trawl surveys [1963-1995, all 

years combined; see Reid et al. (1999) for details]. Survey stations where juveniles were not found are not shown.
Page 11 

Rosette Skate

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Surveys

(1963 - 2001)

Fall/juveniles

(<= 45 cm)

NPTOW

1 - 10

11 - 100

101 - 1000

> 1000

Number per tow

Figure 6. Distribution and abundance of juvenile rosette skate collected during fall NEFSC bottom trawl surveys [1963-

2001, all years combined; see Reid et al. (1999) for details]. 
Page 12 

Rosette Skate

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Surveys

(1964 - 2002)

Winter/adults

 (> 45 cm)

Present

Figure 7. Distribution of adult rosette skate collected during winter NEFSC bottom trawl surveys [1964-2002, all years 

combined; see Reid et al. (1999) for details]. Survey stations where adults were not found are not shown. 
Page 13 

Rosette Skate

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Surveys

(1968 - 2002)

Spring/adults

(> 45 cm)

NPTOW

1 - 10

Number per tow

Figure 8. Distribution and abundance of adult rosette skate collected during spring NEFSC bottom trawl surveys [1968-

2002, all years combined; see Reid et al. (1999) for details].
Page 14 

Fall/adults

(> 45 cm)

NPTOW

1 - 10

Rosette Skate

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Surveys

(1963 - 2001)

Number per tow

Figure 9. Distribution and abundance of adult rosette skate collected during fall NEFSC bottom trawl surveys [1963-

2001, all years combined; see Reid et al. (1999) for details]. 
Page 15 

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Bottom Temperature (°C)

Percent

Trawls N=10537

Occurrence N=164

Catch N=421

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1-10

11-2021-3031-4041-5051-6061-7071-8081-90

91-100

101-120121-140141-160161-180181-200201-300301-400401-500

Bottom Depth (m)

Percent

Trawls N=12193

Occurrence N=186

Catch N=450

0

20

40

60

26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

Salinity (PPT)

Percent

Trawls N=1959

Occurrence N=43

Catch N=90

Rosette Skate

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Survey 

Spring/Juveniles

Figure 10. Spring and fall distributions of juvenile rosette skate and trawls relative to bottom water temperature, depth, 

and salinity based on NEFSC bottom trawl surveys (1963-2002; all years combined). White bars give the distribution of 

all the trawls, black bars give the distribution of all trawls in which rosette skate occurred, and gray bars represent, 

within each interval, the percentage of the total number of rosette skate caught. 
Page 16 

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28

Bottom Temperature (°C)

Percent

Trawls N=11844

Occurrence N=202

Catch N=476

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1-10

11-2021-3031-4041-5051-6061-7071-8081-90

91-100

101-120121-140141-160161-180181-200201-300301-400401-500

>500

Bottom Depth (m)

Percent

Trawls N=13543

Occurrence N=234

Catch N=517

0

20

40

60

27 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

Salinity (PPT)

Percent

Trawls N=1956

Occurrence N=48

Catch N=138

Rosette Skate

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Survey 

Fall/Juveniles

Figure 10. cont’d. 
Page 17 

Figure 11. NEFSC spring survey index of rosette skate biomass and commercial landings of the seven species skate 

complex from the Gulf of Maine to the Mid-Atlantic Bight. 

Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, Southern New England, Mid-Atlantic Bight

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

196019621964196619681970197219741976197819801982198419861988199019921994199619982000

Year

Landings (metric tons)

0.000

0.002

0.004

0.006

0.008

0.010

0.012

0.014

0.016

0.018

0.020

Stratified Mean Weight/Tow (kg)

Skate complex, commercial

landings (mt)

Survey index of rosette skate

biomass

Publishing in NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE

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