Northeast Skate Complex Management Plan
About
The Northeast skate complex fishery in the Greater Atlantic Region includes seven skate species and operates from Maine to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and from inshore to offshore waters on the edge of the continental shelf. Skate is mostly harvested incidentally in trawl and gillnet fisheries targeting groundfish, monkfish, and sometimes scallops.
The Northeast skate complex fishery consists of seven species: Winter skate, barndoor skate, thorny skate, smooth skate, little skate, clearnose skate, and rosette skat).
The primary target species in the skate fishery are winter and little skates. Winter skates are harvested for their wings for human consumption, and little skates are harvested as bait for lobster fisheries. Thorny skate and barndoor skate are currently prohibited species.
Implementing regulations are found at 50 CFR part 648 subpart O. Find out more about Managing Sustainable Fisheries in the Greater Atlantic Region.
Species Managed
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Little Skate
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Thorny Skate
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Barndoor Skate
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Rosette Skate
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Smooth Skate
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Clearnose Skate