Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T00:57:16.392Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Preliminary observations on the life history and movements of skates (Rajidae) around the Island of Jersey, western English Channel

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 December 2010

J.R. Ellis ,
G. Morel ,
G. Burt  and
S. Bossy
J.R. Ellis*
Affiliation:
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft Laboratory, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, UK
G. Morel
Affiliation:
Planning and Environment Department, States of Jersey, Howard Davis Farm, Trinity, Jersey, JE3 5JP
G. Burt
Affiliation:
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft Laboratory, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, UK
S. Bossy
Affiliation:
Planning and Environment Department, States of Jersey, Howard Davis Farm, Trinity, Jersey, JE3 5JP
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: J.R. Ellis, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) Lowestoft Laboratory, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, UK email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The most frequently caught skate species around Jersey include blonde ray Raja brachyura, undulate ray Raja undulata, small-eyed ray Raja microocellata and thornback ray Raja clavata. Between September 2006 and December 2008, a total of 814 individuals were tagged and released, of which 64% were small-eyed ray, 22.6% blonde ray and 12.4% undulate ray. The size distribution, sex-ratio and maturity of these samples are summarized. There were 138 reported recaptures (return rate = 17.1%), with most fish recaptured from the study area. Indeed, many of the tagged skates were recaptured within the same release area or within 20 km, indicating high site fidelity, with the longest distance travelled only 61 km. Thirteen fish were recaptured on multiple (2–4) occasions. To date the longest time at liberty has been 754 days. These results are discussed in relation to our current knowledge of the stock structure and exploitation of skates in the western English Channel.

Keywords

Rajiformestagging studydistributionpopulation structureChannel Islands
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 91 , Special Issue 6: Fish Ecology , September 2011 , pp. 1185 - 1192
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Álvarez, M.F., Aragort, W., Leiro, J.M. and Sanmartín, M.L. (2006) Macroparasites of five species of ray (genus Raja) on the northwest coast of Spain. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 70, 93–100.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brander, K. (1981) Disappearance of common skate, Raia batis from Irish Sea. Nature 290, 48–49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
CEC (2009) Council Regulation (EC) No. 43/2009 of 16 January 2009 fixing for 2009 the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Community waters and, for Community vessels, in waters where catch limitations are required. Official Journal of the European Union L22/1, 1–205.Google Scholar
Clark, R.S. (1922) Rays and skates (Raiae). No. I. egg-capsules and young. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 12, 577–643.Google Scholar
Coelho, R. and Erzini, K. (2006) Reproductive aspects of the undulate ray, Raja undulata, from the south coast of Portugal. Fisheries Research 81, 80–85.Google Scholar
Couch, J. (1864) A history of the fishes of the British Isles. Volumes I–IV. London: Goombridge & Sons.Google Scholar
de Noter, C. and Hureau, J.-C. (1996) L'ichtyofaune des îles Chausey: biodiversité et variations spatio-temporelles, facteurs naturels et anthropiques. Cybium 20, 87–98.Google Scholar
Dorel, D. (1986) Poissons de l'Atlantique nord-est relations taille-poids. Nantes, France: Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer, 165 pp.Google Scholar
Ellis, J.R., Cruz-Martinez, A., Rackham, B.D. and Rogers, S.I. (2005a) The distribution of chondrichthyan fishes around the British Isles and implications for conservation. Journal of Northwest Atlantic Fishery Science 35, 195–213.Google Scholar
Ellis, J.R., Dulvy, N.K., Jennings, S., Parker-Humphreys, M. and Rogers, S.I. (2005b) Assessing the status of demersal elasmobranchs in UK waters: a review. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 85, 1025–1047.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ellis, J.R., Burt, G.J., Cox, L.P.N., Kulka, D.W., and Payne, A.I.L. (2008a) The status and management of thornback ray Raja clavata in the south-western North Sea. ICES CM 2008/K,13, 45 pp.Google Scholar
Ellis, J.R., Clarke, M.W., Cortés, E., Heessen, H.J.L., Apostolaki, P., Carlson, J.K. and Kulka, D.W. (2008b) Management of elasmobranch fisheries in the North Atlantic. In Payne, A.I.L., Cotter, A.J. and Potter, E.C.E. (eds) Advances in fisheries science. 50 years on from Beverton and Holt. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, pp. 184–228.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fisheries and Marine Resources (2009) Fisheries and Marine Resources Annual Report 2008. States of Jersey, Planning and Environment Department, 38 pp.Google Scholar
Fisheries and Marine Resources (2010) Fisheries and Marine Resources Annual Report 2009. States of Jersey, Planning and Environment Department, 44 pp.Google Scholar
Holden, M.J. (1974) Problems in the rational exploitation of elasmobranch populations and some suggested solutions. In Harden Jones, F.R. (ed.) Sea fisheries research. London: Elek, pp. 117–137.Google Scholar
Heupel, M.R., Carlson, J.K. and Simpfendorfer, C.A. (2007) Shark nursery areas: concepts, definition, characterization and assumptions. Marine Ecology Progress Series 337, 287–297.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hunter, E., Buckley, A.A., Stewart, C. and Metcalfe, J.D. (2005) Migratory behaviour of the thornback ray, Raja clavata, in the southern North Sea. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 85, 1095–1105.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
ICES (2008) Demersal elasmobranchs in the Celtic Seas (ICES Areas VI, VIIa–c, e– k). ICES Advice 2008, Book 5, 13 pp.Google Scholar
ICES (2009) Report of the Joint Meeting between ICES Working Group on Elasmobranch Fishes (WGEF) and ICCAT Shark Subgroup, 22–29 June 2009. Copenhagen, Denmark: ICES CM 2009/ACOM:16, 424 pp.Google Scholar
Jackson, E.L., Attrill, M.J. and Jones, M.B. (2006a) Habitat characteristics and spatial arrangement affecting the diversity of fish and decapod assemblages of seagrass (Zostera marina) beds around the coast of Jersey (English Channel). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 68, 421–432.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jackson, E.L., Attrill, M.J., Rowden, A.A. and Jones, M.B. (2006b) Seagrass complexity hierarchies: influence on fish groups around the coast of Jersey (English Channel). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 330, 38–54.Google Scholar
Moura, T., Figueiredo, I., Farias, I., Serra-Pereira, B., Coelho, R., Erzini, K., Neves, A. and Gordo, L.S. (2007) The use of caudal thorns for ageing Raja undulata from the Portuguese continental shelf, with comments on its reproductive cycle. Marine and Freshwater Research 58, 983–992.Google Scholar
Moura, T., Figueiredo, I., Farias, I., Serra-Pereira, B., Neves, A., Borges, M.F. and Gordo, L.S. (2008) Ontogenetic dietary shift and feeding strategy of Raja undulata Lacépède, 1802 (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae) on the Portuguese continental shelf. Scientia Marina 72, 311–318.Google Scholar
Pawson, M.G. (1995) Biogeographical identification of English Channel fish and shellfish stocks. Fisheries Research Technical Report 99, MAFF Directorate of Fisheries Research, Lowestoft, 72 pp.Google Scholar
Pawson, M.G. and Ellis, J.R. (2005) Stock identity of elasmobranchs in the north-east Atlantic in relation to assessment and management. Journal of Northwest Atlantic Fishery Science 35, 173–193.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pingree, R.D. and Mardell, G.T. (1987) Tidal flows around the Channel Islands. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 67, 691–707.Google Scholar
Regan Tate, C. (1913) Raia undulata Lacép., and its distribution on the British coasts. Annals and Magazine of Natural History Series 8, 80–82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rogers, S.I. and Ellis, J.R. (2000) Changes in the demersal fish assemblages of British coastal waters during the 20th century. ICES Journal of Marine Science 57, 866–881.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rousset, J. (1990) Catches and geographical distribution of selachians on the western coast of Brittany. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 70, 255–260.Google Scholar
Stehmann, M. and Bürkel, D.L. (1984) Rajidae. In Whitehead, P.J.P., Bouchot, M.-L., Hureau, J.-C., Nielsen, J. and Tortonese, E. (eds) Fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Paris: UNESCO, pp. 163–196.Google Scholar
Walker, P.A., Howlett, G. and Millner, R. (1997) Distribution, movement and stock structure of three ray species in the North Sea and eastern English Channel. ICES Journal of Marine Science 54, 797–808.CrossRefGoogle Scholar