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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: jim.ellis@cefas.co.uk
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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

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