NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-173

Essential Fish Habitat Source Document:

Barndoor Skate, Dipturus laevis,

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:

Barndoor Skate, Dipturus laevis,

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-173
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................................................................................................................................................................. 2 

Habitat Characteristics...................................................................................................................................................................... 3 

Status of the Stocks........................................................................................................................................................................... 3 

Research Needs................................................................................................................................................................................. 4 

Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................................................................................ 4 

References Cited............................................................................................................................................................................... 4 

Tables 

Table 1. Summary of habitat parameters for barndoor skate, based on the pertinent literature and most recent NEFSC surveys...6

Figures 

Figure 1. The barndoor skate, Dipturus laevis (Mitchill 1817)...................................................................................................... 8 

Figure 2. Egg case of barndoor skate ............................................................................................................................................. 9 

Figure 3. Distribution of juvenile barndoor skate collected during winter NEFSC bottom trawl surveys ................................... 10 

Figure 4. Distribution and abundance of juvenile barndoor skate collected during spring NEFSC bottom trawl surveys........... 11 

Figure 5. Distribution of juvenile barndoor skate collected during summer NEFSC bottom trawl surveys................................. 12 

Figure 6. Distribution and abundance of juvenile barndoor skate collected during fall NEFSC bottom trawl surveys ............... 13 

Figure 7. Distribution and abundance of juvenile barndoor skate during spring in Massachusetts coastal waters....................... 14 

Figure 8. Distribution of adult barndoor skate collected during winter NEFSC bottom trawl surveys ........................................ 15 

Figure 9. Distribution and abundance of adult barndoor skate collected during spring NEFSC bottom trawl surveys................ 16 

Figure 10. Distribution of adult barndoor skate collected during summer NEFSC bottom trawl surveys ..................................... 17 

Figure 11. Distribution and abundance of adult barndoor skate collected during fall NEFSC bottom trawl surveys .................... 18 

Figure 12. Spring/fall distributions of juveniles relative to bottom temperature, depth, and salinity based on NEFSC surveys ... 19 

Figure 13. Spring/fall distributions of adults relative to bottom temperature, depth, and salinity based on NEFSC surveys ........ 21 

Figure 14. NEFSC spring survey index of barndoor skate biomass and commercial landings of seven species skate complex.... 23 

Page 1 

INTRODUCTION 

 The barndoor skate [Dipturus laevis (Mitchill 1817); 

formerly Raja laevis, see McEachran and Dunn (1998); 

Figure 1] occurs from Newfoundland, the Gulf of St. 

Lawrence, off Nova Scotia, the Gulf of Maine, and the 

northern sections of the Mid-Atlantic Bight down to 

North Carolina (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953, 1954; 

McEachran and Musick 1975; Scott and Scott 1988). A 

similar species, Dipturus teevani occurs along the coast 

south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina (Bigelow and 

Schroeder 1962, 1968; Bullis and Thompson 1965; 

Struhsaker 1969). Barndoor skate is one of the largest 

skates in the northwest Atlantic. Bigelow and Schroeder 

(1953) reported one specimen to be 147.3 cm TL and 

106.7 cm wide with a tail 68.8 cm long, and a female to 

be 127 cm TL and 84.5 cm wide with a 55.9 cm tail; 

unconfirmed reports have barndoor skate reaching 183 

cm TL. Bigelow and Schroeder (1953) also state that they 

are about 1.8-2.7 kg when 71-76 cm TL, about 4.5-5.0 kg 

at 91 cm TL, and about 8.6-9.5 kg at 114-117 cm TL. 

LIFE HISTORY 

AGE, GROWTH, AND SIZE AT 

MATURITY 

 Barndoor skates are presumed to be a relatively longlived, slow growing species, but no estimates of age and 

growth parameters are currently available. The closest 

relative to the barndoor skate is the common skate 

(Dipturus batis) in the northeast Atlantic. Casey and 

Myers (1998) expect similar characteristics for barndoor 

skate on Georges Bank, which has a similar temperature 

regime. By analogy, Casey and Myers (1998) suggested a 

Lmax of 153 cm TL and an Amat of 11 years for barndoor 

skate. Based on the predictive equations from Frisk et al. 

(2001) and the Northeast Fisheries Science Center 

(NEFSC) survey maximum observed length of 136 cm 

TL, Lmat is estimated at 102 cm TL and Amat is estimated 

at 8 years (Northeast Fisheries Science Center 2000b). In 

another study, clasper length measurements on males 

from Georges Bank show that male sexual maturity 

occurs at approximately 100 cm TL (Gedamke and 

DuPaul 1999). 

REPRODUCTION 

 Females containing fully formed egg capsules have 

been taken in December and January (Vladykov 1936; 

Bigelow and Schroeder 1953), although it is not known if 

egg capsule production and deposition is restricted to the 

winter (McEachran 2002). 

 Casey and Myers (1998) proposed that barndoor 

skate might have life history characteristics similar to 

European skate (Dipturus batis). By analogy, Casey and 

Myers (1998) suggest that maximum egg production for 

barndoor skate, which can be estimated from the inverse 

relation with the weight of the young at hatching, is about 

47 eggs/yr. 

EGGS 

 The single fertilized egg is encapsulated in a leathery 

yellowish or greenish egg capsule known as a "mermaid's 

purse." The capsules are rectangular in shape, 124-132 

mm long and 68-72 mm wide with a short horn at each 

corner (Vladykov 1936; Bigelow and Schroeder 1953; 

Figure 2). The capsules are smooth but possess fine 

filaments along their anterior and posterior margins. The 

capsules are considerably larger and have shorter horns 

than those of other northwest Atlantic skates (McEachran 

2002). 

JUVENILES 

 Bigelow and Schroeder (1953) suggest that the 

young do not hatch until late spring or early summer (they 

assume the eggs are laid in winter). The young are 

thought to be 180-190 mm TL at hatching but small 

specimens are seldom captured (McEachran 2002). 

ADULTS 

FOOD HABITS 

 Food of the barndoor skate consists of benthic 

invertebrates and fishes. Prey includes polychaetes, 

gastropods, bivalve mollusks, squids, crustaceans, 

hydroids, and fishes (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953; Scott 

and Scott 1988; Bowman et al. 2000; Avent et al. 2001). 

Smaller individuals apparently subsist mainly on benthic 

invertebrates, such as polychaetes, copepods, amphipods, 

isopods, the shrimp Crangon septemspinosa, and 

euphausids, while larger skate eat larger and more active 

prey such as razor clams (Ensis directus), large 

gastropods, squids, crabs (Cancer spp. and spider crabs), 

lobsters and fishes (McEachran 2002). Fish prey includes 

spiny dogfish, alewife, Atlantic herring, menhaden, 

hakes, sculpins, cunner, tautog, sand lance, butterfish, and 

various flounders (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953).

PREDATORS AND SPECIES 

ASSOCIATIONS 

 McEachran (2002) states that nothing is known of the 

predators of barndoor skate, but it is probably eaten by 

sharks, and a similar species in the eastern North Pacific 

is preyed upon by sperm whales. 
Page 2 

 Based upon 1967-1970 surveys from Nova Scotia to 

Cape Hatteras, McEachran and Musick (1975) noted that 

barndoor skate was associated with both little skate 

(Leucoraja erinacea) and winter skate (Leucoraja 

ocellata). Barndoor skate was found in the same areas as 

the above species pair but had a wider substratum and 

depth tolerance. 

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 

 Barndoor skate occurs from the banks of 

Newfoundland [although the only recent research survey 

catches of barndoor skate in the Newfoundland area have 

been very deep (> 1000 m) and in an area north of the 

reported range of the species (Casey and Myers 1998)], 

the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, and along the 

northeastern coast and offshore banks of Nova Scotia 

down to North Carolina (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953, 

1954; McEachran and Musick 1975; Scott and Scott 

1988). It has been found throughout the Gulf of Maine 

including off Nova Scotia, in St. Mary Bay, in the Bay of 

Fundy and Passamaquoddy Bay, from Eastport, Casco 

Bay, and the remainder of the coast of Maine, and from 

various localities in Massachusetts Bay (Bigelow and 

Schroeder 1953; Macdonald et al. 1984; Collette and 

Hartel 1988). It also occurs on Georges Bank and 

Nantucket Shoals (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953). 

However, McEachran and Musick (1975), based on 

surveys from Nova Scotia to Cape Hatteras during 1967-

1970, found that barndoor skate was most abundant in the 

eastern Gulf of Maine and on the eastern section of 

Georges Bank, but none were found in the western Gulf 

of Maine. McEachran and Musick (1975) also declared 

that the barndoor skate was the most widespread of the 

skate species they studied, but too few were taken to 

elaborate on its distribution. 

 In the Gulf of Maine part of the population of 

barndoor skate moves into shallow water during the 

summer (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953). Huntsman (1922) 

stated that it is often stranded on the beach, and they 

quote Huntsman as saying it comes into Passamaquoddy 

Bay from May to November and slightly longer in the 

Bay of Fundy. However, some are found at depths of 37-

110 m on Georges Bank and off Cape Cod throughout the 

year (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953). South of Cape Cod 

barndoor skate occurs in relatively shallower water during 

the spring and autumn (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953) 

although Merriman and Warfel (1948) note that it is most 

abundant in southern New England during the summer. 

Hildebrand and Schroeder (1928) state that it only occurs 

in Chesapeake Bay during the spring. 

JUVENILES 

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

for details] captured low numbers or concentrations of 

juvenile (< 101 cm TL) barndoor skate year-round 

(Figures 3-6). (Note that winter and summer distributions 

are presented as presence/absence data, precluding a 

discussion of abundances.) In winter, juveniles were 

found mostly on Georges Bank, near the 200 m depth 

contour, as well as in the Gulf of Maine, southern New 

England, and the Mid-Atlantic Bight down to the Hudson 

Canyon (Figure 3). In spring, they were found in the same 

areas and were not very abundant (Figure 4), while in 

summer they were mostly concentrated on or near 

Georges Bank (Figure 5), in contradiction to Merriman 

and Warfel’s (1948) observation about barndoor skate 

being most abundant in southern New England during the 

summer. In fall they were again widely distributed 

throughout the previously mentioned areas, especially on 

Georges Bank, and in greater numbers than in the spring 

(Figure 6). Lower abundances and narrower distributions 

during spring and summer may be due to their moving 

into shallow water, as noted previously. 

 Contrary to previous records, none were found as far 

south as North Carolina. In agreement with McEachran 

and Musick (1975), few were found in the western Gulf 

of Maine, but contrary to those same authors, they were 

often relatively abundant throughout Georges Bank, not 

just in the eastern portion. 

Only two juvenile barndoor skate was found near 

Martha’s Vineyard during the spring 1978-2002 

Massachusetts inshore trawl surveys (Figure 7). 

ADULTS 

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

for details] captured adult barndoor skate (> 102 cm TL) 

during all seasons (Figures 8-11), although the overall 

numbers of adults collected were even lower than those 

for juveniles. (Again, winter and summer distributions are 

presented as presence/absence data, precluding a 

discussion of abundances.) In winter, a few were present 

in the Gulf of Maine, on Georges Bank near the 200 m 

isobath, and in southern New England and the MidAtlantic Bight down to the Hudson Canyon between the 

60 m and 200 m isobaths (Figure 8). The few that were 

caught in spring were found mostly on Georges Bank 

near the 200 m isobath and in the Northeast Channel 

(Figure 9). Few were present in summer, and were found 

either on central Georges Bank or near the Bay of Fundy 

(Figure 10). In the fall they were again found in the Gulf 

of Maine and on Georges Bank, although they were not 

confined to near the 200 m isobath; some were also found 

a little farther south as well as in or near the Bay of Fundy 

(Figure 11). As with the juveniles, lower abundances and 

narrower distributions during spring and summer may be 

due to their moving into shallow water, as noted 

previously. 

 No adults were found as far south as North Carolina, 

contrary to previous records. In agreement with 

McEachran and Musick (1975), few were found in the 
Page 3 

western Gulf of Maine, but contrary to those same 

authors, they were often found throughout Georges Bank, 

not just in the eastern portion. 

HABITAT CHARACTERISTICS 

 Information on the habitat requirements and 

preferences of barndoor skate (based on both the pertinent 

literature and the most recent NEFSC surveys) are 

presented here and summarized in Table 1. 

 Barndoor skate is found on mud bottoms as well as 

on sand and gravel (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953) and 

occurs from the shoreline to about 750 m, although it is 

most abundant at depths < 150 m (Bigelow and Schroeder 

1953, 1954; McEachran and Musick 1975; Scott and 

Scott 1988) and around Newfoundland the only recent 

catches of barndoor skate have been at depths > 1000 m 

(Casey and Myers 1998). McEachran and Musick (1975), 

during trawl surveys conducted from Nova Scotia to Cape 

Hatteras, found it to be widespread from 38-351 m. 

Bigelow and Schroeder (1953) state that it is widespread 

(but not numerous) to a depth of 183 m both in the open 

trough of the Gulf of Maine and in the bowl west of 

Jeffreys Ledge, but is perhaps more plentiful at 46-64 m 

on Georges Bank and Nantucket Shoals than deeper, and 

has been reported as deep as 430 m off Nantucket. The 

spring and fall 1963-2002 NEFSC trawl surveys from the 

Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras (see below) indicated that 

the juveniles were generally widespread from 

approximately 21-400 m, with most from about 61-140 m 

(Figure 12). The adults were found from approximately 

31-400 m, and often at depths greater than approximately 

70 m in spring and 40 m in fall (Figure 13). 

 Barndoor skate has a relatively broad temperature 

range, which may explain its wide depth distribution. 

Bigelow and Schroeder (1953, 1954) stated that its full 

temperature range is from 1.2-20EC. In the Gulf of St. 

Lawrence it is reported from waters as cold as 1.2EC. Off 

the east coast of Nova Scotia it has been reported at 

depths of 24-375 m and at temperatures of 1.2-10.7EC 

and from Nova Scotia to Cape Hatteras it has been 

reported at temperatures of 3-20EC (McEachran and 

Musick 1975; Scott and Scott 1988). The spring and fall 

1963-2002 NEFSC trawl surveys from the Gulf of Maine 

to Cape Hatteras (see below) collected juvenile barndoor 

skate over a temperature range of about 3-18EC, with 

most found around 3-8EC in spring and 6-11EC (with a 

peak at 9EC) in fall (Figure 12). Adults were found over a 

temperature range of about 4-16EC (Figure 13). 

The barndoor skate’s salinity preference ranges from 

32-36 ppt (spring and fall 1963-2002 NEFSC trawl 

survey data; Figures 12-13), although it has been reported 

from the mouth of Chesapeake Bay where salinities range 

from 21-24 ppt, and from the Delaware River near 

Philadelphia in brackish water (McEachran 2002). 

JUVENILES 

The spring and fall distributions of juvenile barndoor 

skate relative to bottom water temperature, depth, and 

salinity based on 1963-2002 NEFSC bottom trawl 

surveys from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras are 

shown in Figure 12. In spring, they were found in waters 

between 3-13EC, with most between 3-8EC. Their depth 

range during that season was between 41-400 m, with 

most spread between about 61-140 m. They were found 

over a salinity range of 32-36 ppt, with around 50% 

found at 33 ppt. In the fall they were found over a 

temperature range of about 3-18EC, with most found 

between 6-11EC and with around 25% found at 9EC. 

Their depth range during that season was between 21-400 

m with the majority between approximately 61-140 m. 

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

about 50-60% found at 33 ppt. 

ADULTS 

 The spring and fall distributions of adult barndoor 

skate relative to bottom water temperature, depth, and 

salinity based on 1963-2002 NEFSC bottom trawl 

surveys from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras are 

shown in Figure 13. In spring, they were found in 

temperatures of between 4-12EC, with about 50% 

between 7-8EC. Their depth range during spring was 

spread between 71-400 m, with a few at 31-40 m and 

many between 201-400 m. Their salinity range was 

between 33-36 ppt, with close to 60% at 35 ppt. In the fall 

they were found over a temperature range of 5-16EC, 

with a peak at 7EC and another lower peak at 11EC. Their 

depth range during that season was between 31-400 m 

with the highest catches and occurrences between about 

61-100 m and 121-140 m. They were found at salinities 

between 32-35 ppt, with about 70% between 32-33 ppt. 

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 [little, barndoor, winter, 

thorny (Amblyraja radiata), clearnose (Raja eglanteria), 

rosette (Leucoraja garmani), 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 
Page 4 

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 14). 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 14). 

 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 recent increase in aggregate skate 

biomass has been due to an increase in small sized skates 

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

smooth), primarily little skate. The biomass of large size 

skates (> 100 cm max. length: barndoor, winter, and 

thorny) has steadily declined since the mid-1980s. 

 The abundance of barndoor skate declined 

continuously through the 1960s due to historic lows 

during the early 1980s (Figure 14). Since 1990, the 

abundance of barndoor skate has increased slightly on 

Georges Bank, the western Scotian Shelf, and in southern 

New England, although the 1999 current NEFSC autumn 

survey biomass index is < 5% of the peak observed in 

1963 (Northeast Fisheries Science Center 2000a, b). It 

should be noted however that barndoor skate also occurs 

in waters deeper than those covered by the NEFSC and 

state surveys and it is likely that these surveys 

underrepresent the abundance of larger barndoor skate 

(Northeast Fisheries Science Center 2000a, b). Barndoor 

skate is 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. 

 Northeast Fisheries Science Center (2000b) also 

suggests the following research needs: 

• More life history studies (including studies on age, 

growth, maturity, and fecundity) are necessary. 

• Studies of stock structure are needed to identify unit 

stocks; stock identification studies are also necessary. 

• 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 

Avent, S.R., S.M. Bollens, M. Butler, E. Horgan, and R. 

Rountree. 2001. Planktonic hydroids on Georges 

Bank: ingestion and selection by predatory fishes. 

Deep-Sea Res II 48: 673-684. 

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

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

577 p. 

Bigelow, H.B. and W.C. Schroeder. 1954. Deep water 

elasmobranchs and chimaeroids from the 

northwestern Atlantic slope. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 

112: 38-87. 

Bigelow, H.B. and W.C. Schroeder. 1962. New and little 

known batoid fishes from the western Atlantic. Bull. 

Mus. Comp. Zool. 128: 159-244. 

Bigelow, H.B. and W.C. Schroeder. 1968. Additional 

notes on batoid fishes from the western Atlantic. 

Breviora 281. 39 p. 

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

Grosslein. 2000. Food of northwest Atlantic fishes 
Page 5 

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, SilverBay, 

Combat, and Pelican made during 1956-1960 in the 

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

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

Casey, J.M. and R.A. Myers. 1998. Near extinction of a 

large, widely distributed fish. Science 281: 690-692. 

Collette, B.B. and K.E. Hartel. 1988. Annotated list of 

fishes of Massachusetts Bay. NOAA Tech. Mem. 

NMFS-F/NEC-51. 70 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. 

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. 

Gedamke, T. and W. DuPaul. 1999. Preliminary 

observations of barndoor skates (Raja laevis) on 

Georges Bank. Virginia Mar. Resources Rep. 99-9. 6 

p. 

Hildebrand, S.F. and W.C. Schroeder. 1928. Fishes of 

Chesapeake Bay. Bull. U.S. Bur. Fish. 43(l). 366 p. 

Huntsman, A.G. 1922. The fishes of the Bay of Fundy. 

Contrib. Can. Biol. 1921 (3): 49-72. 

Macdonald, J.S., M.J. Dadswell, R.G. Appy, G.D. 

Melvin, and D.A. Methven. 1984. Fishes, fish 

assemblages, and their seasonal movements in the 

lower Bay of Fundy and Passamaquoddy Bay, 

Canada. Fish. Bull. (U.S.) 82: 121-139. 

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. 

Merriman, D. and H.E. Warfel. 1948. Studies on the 

marine resources of southern New England. VII. 

Analysis of a fish population. Bull. Bingham 

Oceanogr. Collect., Yale Univ. 11 (4): 131-164 

Murdy, E.O., R.S. Birdsong, and J.A. Musick. 1997. 

Fishes of Chesapeake Bay. Smithsonian Institution 

Press, Washington, DC. 324 p. 

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. 

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. 

Scott, W.B. and M.G. Scott. 1988. Atlantic fishes of 

Canada. Can. Bull. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 219. 731 p. 

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. Ind. Res. 4: 261-300. 

Vladykov, V.D. 1936. Capsules d’oeufs de raies de 

l’Atlantique Canadien appartenant au genre Raja. 

Natur. Can. 63: 211-231. 
Page 6 

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

surveys. 

Life Stage Depth Substrate Salinity Temperature 

Juveniles 1

Occurs from the shoreline to about 

750 m, although widespread from 38-

351 m and most abundant at depths < 

150 m. Reported to be widespread 

(but not numerous) to 183 m both in 

the open trough of the Gulf of Maine 

and in the bowl west of Jeffreys 

Ledge, but may be more plentiful at 

46-64 m on Georges Bank and 

Nantucket Shoals than deeper; has 

been reported as deep as 430 m off 

Nantucket. Off the east coast of Nova 

Scotia it has been reported at depths 

of 24-375 m and around 

Newfoundland the only recent 

catches have been at depths > 1000 

m. The spring and fall 1963-2002 

NEFSC trawl surveys from the Gulf 

of Maine to Cape Hatteras indicated 

that the juveniles were generally 

widespread from approximately 21-

400 m, with most from about 61-140 

m. 

In the Gulf of Maine part of the 

population moves into shallow water 

during summer; however, some are 

found at a depth of 37-110 m on 

Georges Bank and off Cape Cod 

throughout the year. South of Cape 

Cod barndoor skate occurs in 

relatively shallower water during the 

spring and autumn. 

Found on mud 

bottoms as well 

as on sand and 

gravel. 

Salinity preference 

ranges from 32-36 

ppt, although it 

has been reported 

from the mouth of 

Chesapeake Bay 

where salinities 

range from 21-24 

ppt, and from the 

Delaware River 

near Philadelphia 

in brackish water. 

Barndoor skate has a relatively broad 

temperature range of 1.2-20EC, which 

may explain its wide depth 

distribution. In the Gulf of St. 

Lawrence it has been reported from 

waters as cold as 1.2EC. Off the east 

coast of Nova Scotia it has been 

reported at temperatures of 1.2-10.7EC 

and from Nova Scotia to Cape Hatteras 

it has been reported at temperatures of 

3-20EC. The spring and fall 1963-2002 

NEFSC trawl surveys from the Gulf of 

Maine to Cape Hatteras collected 

juveniles over a temperature range of 

about 3-18EC, with most found around 

3-8EC in spring and 6-11EC (with a 

peak at 9EC) in fall. 

Adults 2

Same as for the juveniles. 

The spring and fall 1963-2002 

NEFSC trawl surveys from the Gulf 

of Maine to Cape Hatteras indicated 

that the adults were found from 

approximately 31-400 m, and often at 

depths greater than approximately 70 

m in spring and 40 m in fall. 

Same as for the 

juveniles. 

Same as for the 

juveniles. 

Same as for the juveniles. 

The spring and fall 1963-2002 NEFSC 

trawl surveys from the Gulf of Maine 

to Cape Hatteras show that adults 

were found over a temperature range 

of about 4-16EC. 

1 Bigelow and Schroeder (1953, 1954); McEachran and Musick (1975); Scott and Scott (1988); Casey and Myers (1998); McEachran 

(2002); 1963-2002 NEFSC trawl surveys. 

2 Bigelow and Schroeder (1953, 1954); McEachran and Musick (1975); Scott and Scott (1988); Casey and Myers (1998); McEachran 

(2002); 1963-2002 NEFSC trawl surveys. 
Page 7 

Table 1. cont’d. 

Life Stage Prey Predators/Species Associations 

Juveniles 1

Prey includes polychaetes, gastropods, bivalve 

mollusks, squids, crustaceans, hydroids, and 

fishes. Smaller individuals apparently subsist 

mainly on benthic invertebrates, such as 

polychaetes, copepods, amphipods, isopods, the 

shrimp Crangon septemspinosa, and 

euphausids. 

Probably preyed upon by sharks and 

whales. 

Barndoor skate associated with both 

little skate (Leucoraja erinacea) and 

winter skate (Leucoraja ocellata); 

barndoor skate found in the same 

areas as the above species pair but 

has wider substratum and depth 

tolerance. 

Adults 2

Prey includes polychaetes, gastropods, bivalve 

mollusks, squids, crustaceans, and fishes. 

Larger skate eat larger and more active prey 

such as razor clams (Ensis directus), large 

gastropods, squids, crabs (Cancer spp. and 

spider crabs), lobsters and fishes. Fish prey 

includes spiny dogfish, alewife, Atlantic 

herring, menhaden, hakes, sculpins, cunner, 

tautog, sand lance, butterfish, and various 

flounders. 

Same as for juveniles. 

1 Bigelow and Schroeder (1953); McEachran and Musick (1975); Scott and Scott (1988); Bowman et al. 2000; Avent et al. (2001); 

McEachran (2002).

2 Bigelow and Schroeder (1953); McEachran and Musick (1975); Scott and Scott (1988); Bowman et al. 2000; Avent et al. (2001);

McEachran (2002). 
Page 8 

Figure 1. The barndoor skate, Dipturus laevis (Mitchill 1817). Top: male, from Murdy et al. (1997). Bottom: female, 

from Scott and Scott (1988).
Page 9 

Figure 2. Egg case of barndoor skate. Photograph by Jim Simon (from <http://www.mscs.dal.ca/~myers/

barndoor.html>). 
Page 10 

Barndoor Skate

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Surveys

(1964 - 2002)

Number per tow Winter/juveniles

(<= 101 cm)

Present

Figure 3. Distribution of juvenile barndoor 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 11 

Barndoor Skate

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Surveys

(1968 - 2002)

Spring/juveniles

(<= 101 cm)

NPTOW

1 - 10

11 - 100

101 - 1000

> 1000

Number per tow

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

[1968-2002, all years combined; see Reid et al. (1999) for details].
Page 12 

Barndoor Skate

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Surveys

(1963 - 1995)

Number per tow

Summer/juveniles

 (<= 101 cm)

Present

Figure 5. Distribution of juvenile barndoor 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 13 

Barndoor Skate

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Surveys

(1963 - 2001)

Fall/juveniles

(<= 101 cm)

NPTOW

1 - 10

11 - 100

101 - 1000

> 1000

Number per tow

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

[1963-2001, all years combined; see Reid et al. (1999) for details]. 
Page 14 

New Hampshire

Cape Ann

Massachusetts

Cape Cod

Martha's

Vineyard

Nantucket

Spring/juveniles

NPTOW

1 - 10

Barndoor Skate

Massachusetts Inshore

Trawl Survey

(1978 - 2002)

Spring/juveniles

(<= 101 cm)

 Number per tow

Figure 7. Distribution and abundance of juvenile barndoor skate in Massachusetts coastal waters collected during the 

spring Massachusetts inshore trawl surveys [1978-2002, all years combined; see Reid et al. (1999) for details]. 
Page 15 

Barndoor Skate

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Surveys

(1964 - 2002)

Number per tow

Winter/adults

 (> 101 cm)

Present

Figure 8. Distribution of adult barndoor 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 16 

Barndoor Skate

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Surveys

(1968 - 2002)

Spring/adults

(> 101 cm)

NPTOW

1 - 10

11 - 100

101 - 1000

> 1000

Number per tow

Figure 9. Distribution and abundance of adult barndoor skate collected during spring NEFSC bottom trawl surveys 

[1968-2002, all years combined; see Reid et al. (1999) for details].
Page 17 

Barndoor Skate

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Surveys

(1963 - 1995)

Number per tow

Summer/adults

 (> 101 cm)

Present

Figure 10. Distribution of adult barndoor skate collected during summer NEFSC bottom trawl surveys [1963-1995, all 

years combined; see Reid et al. (1999) for details]. Survey stations where adults were not found are not shown.
Page 18 

Fall/adults

(> 101 cm)

NPTOW

1 - 10

11 - 100

101 - 1000

> 1000

Barndoor Skate

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Surveys

(1963 - 2001)

Number per tow

Figure 11. Distribution and abundance of adult barndoor skate collected during fall NEFSC bottom trawl surveys [1963-

2001, all years combined; see Reid et al. (1999) for details]. 
Page 19 

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=119

Catch N=192

0

5

10

15

20

25

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=125

Catch N=202

0

20

40

60

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

Salinity (PPT)

Percent

Trawls N=1959

Occurrence N=53

Catch N=95

Barndoor Skate

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Survey 

Spring/Juveniles

Figure 12. Spring and fall distributions of juvenile barndoor 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 barndoor skate occurred, and gray bars represent, 

within each interval, the percentage of the total number of barndoor skate caught. 
Page 20 

0

5

10

15

20

25

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

Bottom Temperature (°C)

Percent

Trawls N=11844

Occurrence N=264

Catch N=520

0

5

10

15

20

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=277

Catch N=535

0

20

40

60

27 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

Salinity (PPT)

Percent

Trawls N=1956

Occurrence N=44

Catch N=62

Barndoor Skate

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Survey 

Fall/Juveniles

Figure 12. cont’d. 
Page 21 

0

10

20

30

40

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=33

Catch N=51

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=33

Catch N=51

0

20

40

60

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

Salinity (PPT)

Percent

Trawls N=1959

Occurrence N=15

Catch N=23

Barndoor Skate

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Survey 

Spring/Adults

Figure 13. Spring and fall distributions of adult barndoor 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 barndoor skate occurred, and gray bars represent, 

within each interval, the percentage of the total number of barndoor skate caught. 
Page 22 

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=59

Catch N=75

0

5

10

15

20

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=61

Catch N=77

0

10

20

30

40

50

27 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

Salinity (PPT)

Percent

Trawls N=1956

Occurrence N=11

Catch N=15

Barndoor Skate

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Survey 

Fall/Adults

Figure 13. cont’d. 
Page 23 

Figure 14. NEFSC spring survey index of barndoor 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

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

Stratified Mean Weight/Tow (kg)

Skate complex, commercial landings (mt)

Survey index of barndoor skate biomass

Publishing in NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE

Jon A. Gibson, Biological Sciences Editor & Laura S. Garner, Editor

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Typing text, tables, and figure captions: Text, tables, and

figure captions must be converted to the NOAA-wide standard

of WordPerfect. In general, keep text simple (e.g., don’t switch

fonts and type sizes, don’t use hard returns within paragraphs,

don’t indent except to begin paragraphs). Also, don't use the

WordPerfect automatic footnoting function; all notes should be

indicated in the text by simple numerical superscripts, and listed

together in an "Endnotes" section prior to the "References Cited"

section. Especially, don’t use the WordPerfect graphics function

for embedding tables and figures in text.

Tables may be prepared either with WordPerfect text or with

the WordPerfect table formatting function. If text is used, then

data should be assigned to columns by using all tabs or all spaces,

but not a combination of the two.

Each figure should be supplied both on paper and on disk,

unless there is no digital file of a given figure. Except under

extraordinary circumstances, color will not be used in illustrations.

Manuscript Submission

Authors must submit one paper copy of the double-spaced

manuscript, one disk copy, and original figures (if applicable).

NEFSC authors must include a completely signed-off “NEFSC

Manuscript/Abstract/Webpage Review Form.” Non-NEFSC

authors who are not federal employees will be required to sign a

“Release of Copyright” form.

Send all materials and address all correspondence to:

Jon A. Gibson (Biological Sciences Editor)

NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center

166 Water Street

Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026 USA.

NORTHEAST FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER

Dr. John G. Boreman, Acting Science & Research Director

Capt. John T. Moakley, Operations, Management & Information Services Chief

Teri L. Frady, Research Communications Chief
Research Communications Unit

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

MEDIA

 MAIL

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 "planning,

developing, and managing multidisciplinary programs of basic and applied research to: 1) better understand the living marine resources

(including marine mammals) of the Northwest Atlantic, and the environmental quality essential for their existence and continued

productivity; and 2) describe and provide to management, industry, and the public, options for the utilization and conservation of living

marine resources and maintenance of environmental quality which are consistent with national and regional goals and needs, and with

international commitments." Results of NEFSC research are largely reported in primary scientific media (e.g., anonymously-peerreviewed 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. Those media are in four categories:

Northeast Fisheries Science Center Reference Document -- This series is issued irregularly. The series typically includes: data

reports on field and lab observations or experiments; progress reports on continuing experiments, monitoring, and assessments;

manuals describing routine surveying and sampling programs; background papers for, and summary reports of, scientific meetings;

and simple bibliographies. Issues receive internal scientific review, but no technical or copy editing.

Fishermen's Report -- This information report is a quick-turnaround report on the distribution and relative abundance of

commercial fisheries resources as derived from each of the NEFSC's periodic research vessel surveys of the Northeast's continental

shelf. There is no scientific review, nor any technical or copy editing, of this report.

OBTAINING A COPY: To obtain a copy of a NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE or a Northeast Fisheries Science

Center Reference Document, or to subscribe to the Fishermen's Report or the The Shark Tagger, either contact the NEFSC

Editorial Office (166 Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026; 508-495-2228) or consult the NEFSC webpage on "Reports

and Publications" (http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/nefsc/publications/).

ANY USE OF TRADE OR BRAND NAMES IN ANY NEFSC PUBLICATION OR REPORT DOES NOT IMPLY

ENDORSEMENT.

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE -- This series is issued irregularly. The series typically includes: data reports of

long-term or large-area studies; synthesis reports for major resources or habitats; analytical reports of environmental conditions

or phenomena; annual reports of assessment or monitoring programs; manuals describing unprecedented field and lab techniques;

literature surveys of major resource 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.

The Shark Tagger -- This newsletter is an annual summary of tagging and recapture data on large pelagic sharks as derived from

the NMFS's Cooperative Shark Tagging Program; it also presents information on the biology (movement, growth, reproduction,

etc.) of these sharks as subsequently derived from the tagging and recapture data. There is internal scientific review, but no technical

or copy editing, of this newsletter.