Journal Article
Evidence of egg‐laying grounds for critically endangered flapper skate ( Dipturus intermedius ) off Orkney, UK
Natasha D. Phillips; Amy Garbett; Daniel Wise; Sophie L. Loca; Olivia Daly; Lawrence E. Eagling; Jonathan D. R. Houghton; Peter Verhoog; James Thorburn; Patrick C. Collins
Journal of Fish Biology · Vol. 99, Issue 4 · pp. 1492-1496 · 2021
Abstract
Essential fish habitats (EFHs) are critical for fish life‐history events, including spawning, breeding, feeding or growth. This study provides evidence of EFHs for the critically endangered flapper skate ( Dipturus intermedius ) in the waters around the Orkney Isles, Scotland, based on citizen‐science observation data. The habitats of potential egg‐laying sites were parametrised as >20 m depth, with boulders or exposed bedrock, in moderate current flow (0.3–2.8 knots) with low sedimentation. This information provides a significant contribution to the understanding of EFHs for flapper skate.