Of Shadows and Wings: Ontogenetic ecology and life-history traits of three skate species in the Northeast Atlantic

Sharks, skates, and rays grow slowly and reproduce later in life, making them especially vulnerable to pressures such as fishing and environmental change. Skate populations in the Northeast Atlantic declined in the past, but some are now showing signs of recovery. To help protect and manage these species effectively, a better understanding of their biology and behaviour is needed. In this PhD research, the three most commercially important skate species in the North Sea and English Channel were studied. We explored what they eat, how they grow and reproduce, and how they move through their environment. Using techniques ranging from diet analysis to electronic tracking tags, we identified differences in feeding behaviour, changes in life-history patterns over time, and daily movement rhythms linked to feeding. Together, these findings provide important insights that can be incorporated into management to support the development of sustainable (skate) fisheries.