A new collaborative study has found growing evidence that flapper skate are beginning to recover in Scottish waters after decades of decline.
The research draws on interviews with commercial fishers, whose day to day experience at sea provides rare insight into changes in flapper skate numbers and distribution.
Fishers reported a marked increase in flapper skate bycatch over the past four years, with more than half of those interviewed now encountering the species on a daily basis.
Sightings were most frequently reported along the west coast of Scotland, particularly around the Isles of Rum and Skye, and in western waters around Shetland.
The findings support earlier research published in April 2024, which showed flapper skate numbers increasing more rapidly inside the Loch Sunart to the Sound of Jura Marine Protected Area than outside it.
That earlier study found higher survival rates among young flapper skates within protected waters, pointing to the effectiveness of targeted conservation measures.
Together, the studies suggest that long term protections introduced both inside and outside Marine Protected Areas are beginning to deliver results.
Protection for flapper skate was significantly strengthened in 2009, when it became illegal to land flapper and common blue skates commercially anywhere in Scotland, with fishers required to return them to the water unharmed.
More recent measures, including the designation and management of the Loch Sunart to the Sound of Jura and Red Rocks and Longay Marine Protected Areas, have further protected flapper skate and their egg cases.
The flapper skate is Europe’s largest skate and one of its most vulnerable marine species, reaching maturity at around 15 years of age and producing eggs that incubate for more than a year.
This slow life cycle means populations take a long time to recover from pressure, making early signs of improvement particularly significant.
Jane Dodd, elasmobranch specialist at NatureScot, said:
“This is exciting and promising news, with the current evidence showing a trend for flapper skate recovery.
“It’s also been really rewarding to hear the experiences of the fishers, who have a unique position in their daily lives of seeing how flapper skate are faring where they fish.
“The research is a bright point, but flapper skate are just beginning their recovery.
“They may now be common again in some areas but they are far from restored to their historical range.
“We are committed to continuing to work with fishers to develop best practice to reduce flapper skate bycatch and maximise survival following release.”
Professor Michel Kaiser of Heriot-Watt University said the study showed the value of close collaboration with the fishing industry.
“This is certainly a good news story.
“We were delighted with the engagement we received from the fishing industry, with the evidence consistently pointing towards a recovery trajectory for flapper skate.
“Looking ahead, we hope to convene an industry focused workshop to get the benefit of fishermen’s practical insights and ideas about how we can better handle such large fish.”
Members of the public are also being encouraged to play a role in conservation by recording sightings through the Skatespotter app, helping scientists track how flapper skate populations are changing over time.
