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NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-174, Essential Fish Habitat Source Document: Clearnose Skate, Raja Eglanteria, Life History and Habitat Characteristics
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'IIF NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-174 Essential Fish Habitat Source Document:

Clearnose Skate, Raja eglanteria, Life History and Habitat Characteristics U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Region Northeast Fisheries Science Center Woods Hole, Massachusetts March 2003

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ogmos Cý NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-174 This series represents a secondary level of scientific publishing. All issues employ thorough internal scientific review; some issues employ external scientific review.

Reviews are -- by design - transparent collegial reviews, not anonymous peer reviews. All issues may be cited in formal scientific communications.

Essential Fish Habitat Source Document:

Clearnose Skate, Raja eglanteria, Life History and Habitat Characteristics David B. Packer, Christine A. Zetlin, and Joseph J. Vitaliano National Marine Fisheries Serv., James J. Howard Marine Sciences Lab., 74 Magruder Rd., Highlands, NJ 07732 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Donald L. Evans, Secretary National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., USN (ret.), Administrator National Marine Fisheries Service William T. Hogarth, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries Northeast Region Northeast Fisheries Science Center Woods Hole, Massachusetts March 2003

Editorial Notes on Issues 122-152, 163, and 173-179 in the NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE Series Editorial Production For Issues 122-152, 163, and 173-179, staffofthe Northeast Fisheries Science Center's (NEFSC's) Ecosystems Processes Division have largely assumed the role of staff of the NEFSC's Editorial Office for technical and copy editing, type composition, and page layout. Other than the four covers (inside and outside, front and back) and first two preliminary pages, all preprinting editorial production has been performed by, and all credit for such production rightfully belongs to, the staff of the Ecosystems Processes Division.

Internet Availability Issues 122-152, 163, and 173-179 have been copublished, i.e., both as paper copies and as Web postings. All Web postings are available at: www.nefsc.noaa.gov/nefc/hahitat/efl. Also, all Web postings are in "PDF" format.

Information Updating By federal regulation, all information specific to Issues 122-152, 163, and 173-179 must be updated at least every five years.

All official updates will appear in the Web postings. Paper copies will be reissued only when and if new information associated with Issues 122-152, 163, and 173-179 is significant enough to warrant a reprinting of a given issue. All updated and/o r reprinted issues will retain the original issue number, but bear a "Revised (Month Year)" label.

Species Names The NMFS Northeast Region's policy on the use ofspecies names in all technical communications is generally to follow the American Fisheries Society's lists of scientific and common names for fishes (i.e., Robins et al. 19911), mollusks (i.e.,

Turgeon et al. 19981), and decapod crustaceans (i.e., Williams et al. 19891), and to follow the Society for Marine Mammalogy's guidance on scientific and common names for marine mammals (i.e., Rice 1998"). Exceptions to this policy occur when there are subsequent compelling revisions in the classifications of species, resulting in changes in the names of species (e.g., Cooper and Chapleau 19981; McEachran and Dunn 1998).

'Robins, C.R. (chair); Bailey, R.M.; Bond, C.E.; Brooker, J.R.; Lachner, E.A.; Lea, R.N.; Scott, W.B.

1991.

Common and scientific names of fishesd firom the United States and Canada. 5th ed. Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 20; 183 p.

"'urgeon, D.D, (chair); Quinn; J.F., Jr.; Bogan, A.E,; Coan, L.V:; Hochberg, F.G.; Lyons, W.G.; Mikkelsen, P.M.; Neves, R.J.; Roper, C.F.EL; Rosenberg, G.; Roth, B.; Scheltema, A.; Thompson, F.G.; Vecchione, M.; Williams. JD. 1998. Common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the United States and Canada: mollusks. 2nd ed. Anter. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 26; 526 p.

'Williams, AB. (chair); Abele, L.G.; Felder, D,L.; Hobbs, H.H., Jr.; Manning, R.B.; McLaughlin, P.A.; Perez Farfante, 1. 1989. Common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the United States and Canada: decapod crustaceans. Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ.

17; 77 p.

'Rice, D.W.

1998. Marine mammals of the world: systematics and distribution.

Soc. Matr. Mammal, Spec. Puhl, 4; 231 p.

'Cooper, J.A.; Chapleau, F. 1998.

Monophyly and interrelationships of the family Pleuronectidae (Pleuronectiformes), with a revised classification.

Fish. Bull. (U.S.) 96:686-726.

Mcbachran, JID.; Dunn, K.A.

1998.

Phylogenetic analysis of skates, a morphologically conservative clade of elasmobranchs (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae).

Copeia 1998(2):271-290.

Page iii FOREWORD One of the greatest long-term threats to the viability of commercial and recreational fisheries is the continuing loss of marine, estuarine, and other aquatic habitats.

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (October 11, 1996)

The long-term viability of living marine resources depends on protection of their habitat.

NMFS Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research (February 1998)

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSFCMA), which was reauthorized and amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act (1996),

requires the eight regional fishery management councils to describe and identify essential fish -habitat (EFH) in their respective regions, to specify actions to conserve and enhance that EFH, and to minimize the adverse effects of fishing on EFH.

Congress defined EFH as "those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding or growth to maturity." The MSFCMA requires NMFS to assist the regional fishery management councils in the implementation of EFH in their respective fishery management plans.

NMFS has taken a broad view of habitat as the area used by fish throughout their life cycle. Fish use habitat for spawning, feeding, nursery, migration, and shelter, but most habitats provide only a subset of these functions.

Fish may change habitats with changes in life history stage, seasonal and geographic distributions, abundance, and interactions with other species. The type of habitat, as well as its attributes and functions, are important for sustaining the production of managed species.

The Northeast Fisheries Science Center compiled the available information on the distribution, abundance, and habitat requirements for each of the species managed by the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils. That information is presented in this series of 38 EFH species reports (plus one consolidated methods report).

The EFH species reports are a survey of the important literature as well as original analyses of fishery-JAMES J. HOWARD MARINE SCIENCES LABORATORY HIGHLANDS, NEW JERSEY SEPTEMBER 1999 independent data sets from NMFS and several coastal states.

The species reports are also the source for the current EFH designations by the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management

Councils, and understandably have begun to be referred to as the "EFH source documents."

NMFS provided guidance to the regional fishery management councils for identifying and describing EFH of their managed species. Consistent with this guidance, the species reports present information on current and historic stock sizes, geographic range, and the period and location of major life history stages.

The habitats of managed species are described by the physical, chemical, and biological components of the ecosystem where the species occur. Information on the habitat requirements is provided for each life history stage, and it includes, where available, habitat and environmental variables that control or limit distribution, abundance, growth, reproduction, mortality, and productivity.

Identifying and describing EFH are the first steps in the process of protecting, conserving, and enhancing essential habitats of the managed species.

Ultimately, NMFS, the regional fishery management councils, fishing participants, Federal and state agencies, and other organizations will have to cooperate to achieve the habitat goals established by the MSFCMA.

A historical note: the EFH species reports effectively recommence a series of reports published by the NMFS Sandy Hook (New Jersey) Laboratory (now formally known as the James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory) from 1977 to 1982.

These reports, which were formally labeled as Sandy Hook Laboratory Technical Series Reports, but informally known as "Sandy Hook Bluebooks," summarized biological and fisheries data for 18 economically important species. The fact that the bluebooks continue to be used two decades after their publication persuaded us to make their successors - the 38 EFH source documents - available to the public through publication in the NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE series.

JEFFREY N. CROSS, (FORMER) CHIEF ECOSYSTEMS PROCESSES DIVISION NORTHEAST FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER

Page iv

Page v Contents In tro d u c tio n......................................................................................................................................................................................

I L ife H isto ry.......................................................................................................................................................................................

G eo g rap h ical D istrib u tio n.............................................................................................................................................................

2 H ab itat C h aracteristics......................................................................................................................................................................

3 S ta tu s o f th e S to c k s...........................................................................................................................................................................

5 R e se a rc h N e e d s.........................................................................................................................................................................

Re.......

6 A c k n o w led g m en ts...................................................................................................................................

6 R e feren ce s C ited...............................................................................................................................................................................

6 Tables Table 1. Summary of habitat parameters for clearnose skate, based on the pertinent literature......................................... 8 Table 2. Summary of habitat parameters for clearnose skate, based on the most recent NEFSC and state surveys................ 9 Figures Figure I. The cleam ose skate, Rqja eglanteria Bosc 1802..........................................................................................................

11 F ig ure 2.

E gg case o f clearn o se skate...........................................................................................................................................

12 Figure 3.

Abundance (% occurrence) of the major prey items of clearnose skate collected during NEFSC trawl surveys......... 13 Figure 4. Distribution of juvenile cleamose skate collected during winter NEFSC bottom trawl surveys............................... !.. 14 Figure 5. Distribution and abundance of juvenile cleamose skate collected during spring NEFSC bottom trawl surveys.......... 15 Figure 6. Distribution of juvenile cleamose skate collected during summer NEFSC bottom trawl surveys...........................

16 Figure 7.

Distribution and abundance of juvenile clearnose skate collected during fall NEFSC bottom trawl surveys........... 17 Figure 8.

Distribution and abundance of juvenile clearnose skate in Massachusetts coastal waters.......................................

18 Figure 9. Distribution and abundance of juvenile and adult clearnose skate collected in Long Island Sound........................ 20 Figure 10. Seasonal distribution and abundance of juvenile cleamose skate in the Hudson-Raritan estuary..........................

21 Figure 11. Seasonal distribution and abundance of juvenile and adult clearnose skate in Delaware Bay..................................

23 Figure 12. Catch per unit effort for total catch of juveniles/adults in Chesapeake Bay from the VIMS trawl surveys............. 27 Figure 13. Seasonal distribution and abundance of juveniles/adults in Chesapeake Bay from the VIMS trawl surveys........... 28 Figure 14. Distribution of adult clearnose skate collected during winter NEFSC bottom trawl surveys.................................

29 Figure 15. Distribution and abundance of adult cleamose skate collected during spring NEFSC bottom trawl surveys........... 30 Figure 16. Distribution of adult clearnose skate collected during summer NEFSC bottom trawl surveys.................

.... 31 Figure 17. Distribution and abundance of adult clearnose skate collected during fall NEFSC bottom trawl surveys................ 32 Figure 18. Seasonal distribution and abundance of adult cleamose skate in the Hudson-Raritan estuary...............................

33 Figure 19. Spring/fall distributions of juveniles relative to bottom temperature, depth, and salinity based on NEFSC surveys... 35 Figure 20. Seasonal distributions of juveniles relative to temperature, depth, salinity, and DO in the Hudson-Raritan estuary... 37 Figure 21. Seasonal distributions of juveniles and adults relative to temperature, depth, salinity, and DO in Delaware Bay....... 40 Figure 22. Hydrographic preferences forjuveniles/adults in Chesapeake Bay from the VIMS trawl surveys.......................... 44 Figure 23. Spring/fall distributions of adults relative to bottom temperature, depth, and salinity based on NEFSC surveys........ 45 Figure 24. Seasonal distributions of adults relative to temperature, depth, salinity, and DO in the Hudson-Raritan estuary........ 47 Figure 25. NEFSC spring survey index of clearnose skate biomass and commercial landings of seven species skate complex... 50

Page 1 INTRODUCTION The clearnose skate (Raja eglanteria Bosc 1802; Figure 1) occurs along the eastern United States coast from the Nova Scotian Shelf to northeastern Florida as well as in the northern Gulf of Mexico from northwestern Florida to Texas (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953a; Robinson 1969; McEachran and Musick 1975; Stehmann and McEachran 1978; see also Northeast Fisheries Science Center [NEFSC] trawl surveys, below). It is a southern species that is considered rare in the northern part of its range (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953a).

McEachran (2002) distinguishes clearnose skates from other skates in the Gulf of Maine by a combination of the following characters: snout acute, three rows of equally-sized thorns on dorsal and lateral surfaces of the tail, and the dorsal surface of the disc is marked with a series of dark spots and bars.

LIFE HISTORY The single fertilized egg is encapsulated in an amber to light brown egg case (Figure 2). The egg cases have been described from Sandy Hook Bay, New York/New Jersey (Breder and Nichols 1937; Breder and Atz 1938),

Delaware Bay (Fitz and Daiber 1963), and the Gulf of Mexico (Luer and Gilbert 1985).

The cases are rectangular in shape, with a'relatively short, medially-curved horn at each corner, and range in size from 60-80 mm long and 37-51 mm wide (Fitz and Daiber 1963; Luer and Gilbert 1985; McEachran 2002). The horns are shorter than the remainder of the capsule and the anterior horns are longer than the posterior horns. The egg cases are smooth but are marked with fine longitudinal striations (McEachran 2002). North of Cape Hatteras the egg cases are deposited in the spring and summer; in Delaware Bay, Fitz and Daiber (1963) reported spawning to occur only-in the spring. Off the central west coast of Florida, egg deposition occurs from December through mid-May (Luer and Gilbert 1985). Luer and Gilbert (1985), studying clearnose skate from Florida, found that they lay an average of 30 pairs* of eggs in a season, ranging from 23-35 pairs/individual. The average interval between laying of successive pairs of eggs is around 4.5 days, with most of the intervals falling in the range of 2-6 days.

Incubation time has been reported as about three months for skate eggs in Delaware Bay [Fitz and Daiber (1963);. this time period also agrees with Breder and Nichols (1937)] and 63 days for eggs from a specimen off the Atlantic coast of Florida (Libby arid Gilbert 1960).

Fitz and Daiber (1963) reported that newly hatched clearnose skates appeared in Delaware Bay in July, and based on newly hatched juveniles collected along the east coast, they suggest a northward progresson in hatching times. In the laboratory, Luer and Gilbert (1985) allowed eggs laid by Gulf of Mexico skate to incubate at a constant temperature and photoperiod.

The mean incubation period was around 82 days. 'Eggs laid initially in the season hatched in about 88-94 days, while those laid late in theý season required about 77-80 days. The incubation periods showed a gradual decrease induration from 91-77 days, correlating directly with the order of egg pair deposition. [For a description of hatching and

-egg deposition and development, as well as the mating behavior of clearnose skate, see Luer and Gilbert (1985).]

Age and growth of clearnose skate have been estimated from length frequency plots and by counting rings on vertebral centra (Daiber 1960; Fitz and Daiber 1963). However, vertebrae are difficult to read (Schwartz 1996). In Delaware Bay, Fitz and Daiber (1963) reported newly hatched young to be 15 cm long. They calculated that skates approximately 33 cm long were one year old, 41 cm long two years old, 49 cm long three years old, and

> 58 cm long five years old or older. Schwartz (1996) used disk width (DW) age designations from Fitz and Daiber (1963) to age fish from North Carolina. Based on these techniques, clearnose skate was about 21.0 cm DW at age 1, 28.0 cm DW at age II, 34.0 cm DW at age III, 40.0 cm DW at age IV, 42.0 cm DW at age V, and 46.0 cm DW at age VI.

-Maximum size and size at maturity varies with latitude, the largest individuals occur at highest latitudes (McEachran 2002). The maximum size of clearnose skate, has been previously listed as 94-95 cm TL (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953a; Schaefer 1967). Bigelow and Schroeder (1953a) report that they ordinarily grow to a -length of 76.2 cm TL. Based on the predictive equations from Frisk et al. (2001) and the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) survey maximum observed length of 78 cm TL, Lm.t is estimated at 61 cm TL and Am,, is estimated at 5-6 years (Northeast Fisheries Science Center 2000b).

There are linear regressions defining male and female total length (TL)-weight relationships in North Carolina (Schwartz 1996):

log weight males = -4.9320 + 2.8808 log TL; log weight females = -5.7680 + 3.1869 log TL.

Clearnose skate feed on polychaetes, amphipods, mysid shrimps (e.g. Neomysis americana), the shrimp.

Crangon septemspinosa, mantis shrimps, crabs including Cancer, mud, hermit, and spider crabs, Ovalipes ocellatus, bivalves (e.g. Ensis directus), squids, and small fishes such as soles, weakfish, butterfish, and scup (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953b; Fitz and Daiber 1963; Stehmann and McEachran 1978; Schwartz 1996; Bowman et al. 2000; Figure 3). In North Carolina, fish prey included striped anchovy,. croaker, spot, and blackcheek tonguefish (Schwartz 1996).

Sharks, such as the sand tiger (Odontaspis taurus) regularly prey on the clearnose skate (McEachran 2002),

and one has been found in the stomach of a greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) (Rountree 2001). Boring snails may prey on the eggs of clearnose skate (Cox and Koob 1993).

Page 2 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION Although clearnose skate occurs along the east coast from the Gulf of Maine south, it is rare in the Gulf of Maine and off Massachusetts (see NEFSC and Massachusetts trawl surveys, below). In the past it has been reported from Gloucester, Provincetown, and on Nantucket shoals (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953a).

McEachran and Musick (1975) caught none off Massachusetts or in the Gulf of Maine during 1967-1970 surveys from Nova Scotia to Cape Hatteras.

North of Cape Hatteras, it moves inshore and northward along the continental shelf during the spring and early summer, and offshore and southward during autumn and early winter when water temperatures cool to 13-16°C (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953b, McEachran 1973; McEachran and Musick 1975; see also NEFSC surveys, below). Bigelow and Schroeder (1953b) reported that it appears inshore between Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay in April, occurs off New Jersey and New York from late April-May to October-November, and is found off southern Massachusetts from July until September. Schaefer (1967) collected cleamose skate in the surf zone of Long Island from May to November while Gottschall et al. (2000), based on surveys from 1984-1994 (see below), found them in Long Island Sound mostly in September and October. Jivoff and Able (2001) found it in the deep channels of Little Egg Harbor in New Jersey in April and May. Fitz and Daiber (1963) found that it appeared in Delaware Bay during April-November.

Clearnose skate has been found in Chesapeake Bay from April to December (Massman 1962; Geer 2002, see also Figure

12) and in Chinocoteague,

Virginia, and Sinepuxent Bays, Maryland from May to November (Schwartz 1961). In Georgia estuaries, Dahlberg and Odum (1970) reported that it was a year-round resident.

JUVENILES NEFSC bottom trawl surveys [see Reid et al. (1999) for details] captured juvenile (< 60 cm TL) clearnose skate year-round and show some of the seasonal onshore/offshore movements mentioned above. (Note that winter and summer distributions are presented as presence/absence

data, precluding a

discussion of abundances.)

In winter, the densest concentrations of juveniles occurred on the Continental Shelf from the Delmarva Peninsula to Cape Hatteras out to the 200 m depth contour. Scattered individuals were also found near the Hudson Canyon (Figure 4). In spring they were concentrated inshore from the Delmarva Peninsula to south of Cape Hatteras, with scattered numbers farther out on the continental shelf (Figure 5). In summer they occurred inshore from theNew Jersey coast to around Cape Hatteras, with a very limited presence off Cape Cod (Figure 6). In the. fall heavy concentrations were found along the coast from Sandy Hook, New Jersey to south of Cape Hatteras (Figure 7).

The spring and fall 1978-2002 Massachusetts inshore trawl surveys [see Reid et al. (1999) for details] show a few scattered juveniles around Cape

Cod, in Massachusetts Bay, and around Cape Ann (Figure 8).

The distributions and abundances of both juvenile and adult clearnose skate in Long Island Sound from April to November 1984-1994, based on the Connecticut Fisheries Division bottom trawl surveys, are shown in Figure 9. The following description of their distributions is taken verbatim from Gottschall et al. (2000).

Cleamose skate is a relatively rare species in the Sound (only 29 observed), were most often taken during September and October (Figure 9). They were distributed primarily on the sand and transitional bottom of the Mattituck Sill and Eastern Basin. Only five clearnose skate were observed west of the Sill, four of with were in depths > 18 m on mud bottom (Gottschall et al. 2000).

Occurrence of juveniles in the Hudson-Raritan estuary [based on Hudson-Raritan trawl surveys; see Reid et al. (1999) for details] appears to have the same seasonal pattern noted above; i.e., generally there are fewer in the estuary during the cooler months. Only one juvenile was found in the estuary during the winter (Figure 10). In spring small numbers were scattered throughout the estuary. The largest numbers were captured in the summer, particularly in or near the two channels and south of Coney Island. In the fall, small numbers of juveniles were again found throughout the Hudson-Raritan estuary (Figure 10).

The 1966-1999 Delaware Bay trawl surveys (adults and juveniles combined; Figure 11) also confirm the seasonal trends noted previously for clearnose skate. The greatest abundances occurred in the summer and fall, and they were almost completely absent in the winter. In the spring they were mostly found in the lower Bay, more toward the Delaware side (Figure 11).

In summer, increased numbers were found in the center of the lower Bay and particularly near Cape Henlopen. In the fall, the greatest numbers were caught in the center of lower Delaware Bay, at the mouth and near Cape Henlopen (Figure 11).

The 1988-1999 Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) trawl surveys of Chesapeake Bay show that most juvenile and adult clearnose skate appear in catches between April and December with peak catch per unit effort between May and August (Figure 12; Geer [2002]).

They were most abundant near the Bay mouth during spring and summer, but appeared throughout the Bay during all four seasons, and rarely appeared in the tributaries (Figure 13; Geer [2002]). A few were caught by seine in the 1990s along the seaside of the Eastern Shore of Virginia (Geer 2002).

Page 3 ADULTS NEFSC bottom trawl surveys captured adult clearnose skate (> 61 cm TL) during all seasons, and again showed some of the seasonal onshore/offshore movements mentioned above. (Again, winter and summer distributions are presented as presence/absence data, precluding a discussion of abundances.) In Winter, adults were concentrated offshore on the Continental Shelf out to the 200 m depth contour from the near the Hudson Canyon to Cape

Hatteras, with the heaviest concentrations from Delaware Bay to the Cape (Figure 14). In spring small numbers were concentrated inshore and out to the 200 m contour from Delaware to south of Cape Hatteras (Figure 15).

In summer small concentrations were found mostly inshore from Cape May to Cape Hatteras (Figure 16). Small numbers of adult clearnose skate were concentrated inshore from Long Island to Cape Hatteras in the fall (Figure 17).

Only one adult was caught during the fall Massachusetts inshore trawl surveys (not shown).

The distribution and abundance of both adults and juveniles in Long Island Sound were discussed previously (Figure 9; Gottschall et al. [2000]).

As with the juveniles, adult clearnose skate in the Hudson-Raritan estuary were most abundant during the summer months, particularly near the channels (Figure 18).

The seasonal distribution and abundance of both adults and juveniles in Delaware and Chesapeake Bays were discussed previously (Figures 11, 12 and 13).

HABITAT CHARACTERISTICS Information on the habitat requirements and preferences of clearnose skate (based on both the pertinent literature and the most recent NEFSC and state surveys) are presented here and summarized in Tables I and 2.

The clearnose skate is found on soft bottoms along the continental shelf, but also occurs on rocky or gravelly bottoms (Bullis'and Thompson 1965; Struhsaker 1969). It has been captured from shore in the northern part of its range to 329 m (McEachran and Musick 1975). Bigelow and Schroeder (1953b) stated it was abundant from the sublittoral zone to around 55 m. Edwards et al. (1962) captured it at 280 m and 329 m off of Cape May, New Jersey in the winter. Schwartz (1996), in 1993-1994, captured it at depths of 20 m off Shackleford Banks, North Carolina. However, overall it is most abundant at depths 111 m (McEachran and Musick 1975).

McEachran and Musick (1975) report that during surveys of the Chesapeake Bight, cleamose skate was more abundant in shallow water during spring and summer than during autumn and winter and was more abundant in the Bight during the summer and autumn than in the winter and spring. The spring and fall 1963-2002 NEFSC trawl surveys from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras (see below) indicated that both juveniles and adults were found over a depth range during spring of between 1-300 m, and during the fall between about 1-80 m for the juveniles or 1-50 m for the adults. Most, however, were found at shallow depths of around 1-30 m during both seasons (Figures 19 and 23). The 1992-1997 Hudson-Raritan estuary trawl surveys (see below) showed that most juveniles were found at around 5-7 m (Figure 20);

most adults were captured at 5-8 m (Figure 24). The 1966-1999 Delaware Bay trawl surveys (see below; Figure 21) showed that both juveniles and adults were found over a range of approximately 5-24 m. The 1988-1999 VIMS Chesapeake Bay trawl surveys caught both juveniles and adults over a depth range of 1-33 m, with most between about 7-15 m (see below, Figure 22).

Clearnose skate occurs over a temperature range of 9-30°C, but is most abundant between 9-20'C in the northern part of its range (McEachran and Musick 1975) and 19-30'C in North Carolina (Schwartz 1996). Fitz and Daiber (1963) found that it appeared in Delaware Bay at temperatures above 9°C (about April-November); the Delaware Bay trawl surveys (see below) show that this is generally true. The VIMS trawl surveys caught them in Chesapeake Bay at temperatures between 8-24°C (see below). It has been captured between 5-26°C in the Chesapeake Bight and 9-27°C south of Cape Hatteras (McEachran and Musick 1975). As state previously, north of Cape Hatteras, it moves inshore and northward along the continental shelf during the spring and early summer, and offshore and southward during autumn and early winter when water temperatures cool to 13-16'C (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953b, Schwartz 1961; Massman 1962; Fitz and Daiber 1963; Schaefer 1967; McEachran 1973; McEachran and Musick 1975). The spring and fall 1963-2002 NEFSC trawl surveys from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras (see below and Figure 19) collected juvenile little skate over a temperatures range of 4-27°C, with most fish found at cooler temperatures in the spring (around 7-16°C), as opposed to the fall (around 18-22 °C). Adults were found over a temperature range of 4-25°C, and like the juveniles, most fish were found at cooler temperatures in the spring than in the fall (Figure 23).

The 1992-1997 Hudson-Raritan estuary trawl surveys (see below) showed that the juveniles were found between 13-24°C (Figure 20) and adults between 9-24°C (Figure 24). Breder (1924) had reported that clearnose skate was not found in Sandy Hook Bay below a temperature of 14.4°C. The 1966-1999 Delaware Bay trawl surveys (see below; Figure 21) showed that both juveniles and adults were found over a range of approximately 6-27 C.

Fitz and Daiber (1963) reported clearnose skate in areas of Delaware Bay where the salinity was as low as 20 ppt, the Delaware Bay trawl surveys found a few of them at even lower salinities (see below). In Chesapeake

Page 4 Bay, Geer (2002) reported that most cleamose skate were caught during the VIMS trawl surveys at salinities > 22 ppt (see below). Schwartz (1996) captured them off Shackleford Banks, North Carolina at salinities of 32-34 ppt.. The spring and fall 1963-2002 NEFSC trawl surveys from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras (see below and Figures 19 and 23) collected juveniles and adults between salinities of about 26-36 ppt,, with most found between 32-35 ppt in the spring and 31-32 ppt in the fall.

EGGS As noted previously, in the laboratory, Luer and Gilbert (1985) allowed eggs laid by Gulf of Mexico skate to incubate at a constant temperature of 20-22°C and photoperiod of 12 hours1.388889e-4 days 0.00333 hours 1.984127e-5 weeks 4.566e-6 months light/12 hours dark. Eggs laid initially in the season hatched in about 88-94 days, while those laid late in the season required about 77-80 days.

The incubation periods showed a gradual decrease in duration from 91-77 days, correlating directly with the order of egg pair deposition. The mean incubation period obtained at constant temperature and photoperiod was 82.2+/-3.6 days.

JUVENILES The spring and fall distributions ofjuvenile cleamose skate relative to bottom water temperature, depth, and salinity based on 1963-2002 NEFSC bottom trawl surveys from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras are shown in Figure 19. In spring, they were found, in waters between 4-21 'C, the majority were spread between about 7-16'C. Their depth range during that season was between about 1-300 m, with most between 1-30 m. Their salinity range extended from 26-36 ppt, with the majority found between 32-35 ppt. During the fall, juvenile cleamose skate were found over a temperature range of about 7-27°C, with most spread between about 18-22°C and with peaks at 20-21 'C. They were found over a depth range of about 1-80 m, with around 60% found between 11-20 m. They were found in salinities of between 27-36 ppt, with the majority found at 31-32 ppt.

Too few juveniles were found in the spring and fall Massachusetts inshore trawl surveys to plot their distributions relative to habitat parameters.

The seasonal distributions of juveniles in the Hudson-Raritan estuary relative to bottom water temperature, depth, salinity, and dissolved oxygen 'based on 1992-1997 Hudson-Raritan trawl surveys are shown in Figure 20. The surveys show that during the spring juveniles were found mostly between 13-180C, with the majority at 16'C. Their depth range during that season was between 5 mito around 14'm, with most found at 5-7

m. Their salinities ranged between 22-30 ppt, with peaks at 25 ppt and 27 ppt. They were found over a range of dissolved oxygen levels of between 8-10 ppm with around 50% at 8 ppm. In summer, clearnose skate were found over a temperature range of between 17-24°C, with most between 20-22°C. Their depth range was between 4 m to about 26 m, with most found between 5-8 m. Their salinities ranged between 23-31 ppt. They were found over a range of dissolved oxygen levels of between 3-9 ppm with most between 6-7 ppm. In the fall, their temperature distribution Was between 13-18'C, with about 50% at 16'C. They were found between 5-14 m deep, with most between 5-7 m. Their salinities ranged between 20-31 ppt, with a peak at 21 ppt. They were found over a range of dissolved oxygen levels of between 5-8 ppm with most between 7-8 ppm.

The seasonal distributions of both juveniles and adults in Delaware Bay relative to bottom water temperature, depth, salinity, and dissolved oxygen based on 1966-1999 Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife bottom trawl surveys are shown in Figure 21. Very few were,found in winter; their temperature range was between 7-8°C, and they were found at depths of 8 m, 13 m, and especially 18 m. They were found at salinities of 24 ppt, 28-29 ppt,. and at 34 ppt. They were found over a range of dissolved oxygen levels of between 9-10 ppm. In spring, they were found over a wider temperature range of between 6-20'C, most occurred or were caught between 9-18'C. Their depth range was between 7-22 m, with a few at 4 m and 28 m, and peaks at 8-9 m and 13 m.

Their salinities ranged between 17-33 ppt, with peaks at 26-27 ppt and 30 ppt. They were found over a range of dissolved oxygen levels' of between 6-15 ppm, most were found between 8-10 ppm. In summer, clearnose skate were found over a higher temperatures range of between 14-27°C. They generally occurred or were caught with increasing frequency from 16'C to about 22-23 °C..They had a

roughly bimodal depth distribution of approximately 5-23 m, the peaks were at about 7-8 m and 13-14 m. Their salinities ranged between about 19-32 ppt, with a few at 12-13 ppt, and a peak at 30 ppt. They were found over a range of dissolved oxygen levels of between 5-10 ppm; the majority were between 6-7 ppm. During fall they were found between 8-24°C, with most found between about 16-21 'C. Their depth range during that

.season was between 6-21 m with a few at 24 m, most were found between about 8-14 m. There was a peak (about 20%) at 8 m. Their salinities were spread between approximately 15-32 ppt, with the majority between 28-30 ppt. They were found over a range of dissolved oxygen levels of between 6-11 ppm, with the majority at 6-8 ppm.

The hydrographic preferences of both juvenile and adult clearnose skate in Chesapeake Bay from the 1988-1999 VIMS trawl surveys are shown in Figure 22 (all years and months combined). Geer (2002) suggests that since they are present in the Bay for all but the coldest months, there appears to be little relationship with catch and temperature, with catchescommon between 8-24°C (Figure 22). However, Geer (2002) does suggest that

Page 5 there is a clear relationship with salinity, with > 85% of the catch at > 22 ppt. Their depth range was from 1-33 m, with most between about 7-15 m.

ADULTS The spring and fall distributions of adult cleamose skate relative to bottom water temperature, depth, and salinity based on -1963-2002 NEFSC bottom trawl surveys from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras are shown in Figure 23. In spring, they were found at temperatures between 4-22°C, with most spread between about 6-15'C. During that period they were found at a depth range of about 1-300 m, with the majority at 11-30

m. They were found over a salinity range of between 26-36 ppt, with the majority between 32-35 ppt. During the fall, they were distributed over a temperature range of 10-25°C, with most found between 18-22°C. They were found over a depth range of 1-50 m with approximately 60% between 11-20 m..Their salinity range during that season was between 27-35 ppt, with the majority at 3 1-32 ppt.

The seasonal distributions of adults in the Hudson-Raritan estuary relative to bottom water temperature, depth, salinity, and dissolved oxygen are shown in Figure

24. During the spring adults were found over a temperature range of about 9-21 'C, with most between 15-17'C and about 45% at 16'C. Their depth range during that season was between 5-16 m, with most found between 5-8 m. Their salinities during that period ranged between 23-30 ppt, with peaks at 25 and 27 ppt. They were found over a range of dissolved oxygen levels of between 6-11 ppm, with the majority between 7-9 ppm.

In summer, adult clearnose skate were found over a temperature range of between 17-24°C, with a peak at 22°C. Their depth range was between 4 m to about 26 m, with most found between 5-8 m. Their salinities during that period. ranged between 23-31 ppt, with peaks at 27 and 29 ppt. They were found over a range of dissolved oxygen levels of between 3-10 ppm, with the majority between 6-7 ppm.

In the

fall, their temperature distribution was between about 12-18'C (a few were at 9°C), with most at 16-17'C. They were found between 4 m to about 17 m deep, with most between 5-8 m. Their salinities during that period ranged between 20-32 ppt, with most between 26-30 ppt. They were found over a range of dissolved oxygen levels of between 5-10 ppm, with the majority between 6-8 ppm.

The seasonal distributions of both juveniles and adults in Delaware Bay relative to bottom water temperature, depth, salinity, and dissolved oxygen based on Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife bottom trawl surveys were discussed previously (Figure 21).

The hydrographic preferences of both juvenile and adult clearnose skate in Chesapeake Bay from the 1988-1999 VIMS trawl surveys were discussed previously (Figure 22).

STATUS OF THE STOCKS The following section is based on Northeast Fisheries Science Center (2000a, b).

The principal commercial fishing method used to catch all seven species of skates [clearnose, little (Leucoraja erinacea), barmdoor (Dipturus laevis), winter (Leucoraja ocellata), thorny, (Raja eglanteria), rosette (Leucoraja garmani), smooth (Malacoraja senta)] is otter trawling. Skates are frequently taken as bycatch during groundfish trawling and scallop dredge operations and discarded recreational and foreign landings are currently insignificant, at < 1% of the total fishery landings.

Skates have been reported in New England fishery landings since the late 1800s. However, commercial fishery landings, primarily from off Rhode Island, never exceeded several hundred metric tons until the advent of distant-water fleets during the 1960s. Landings are not reported by species, with over 99% of the landings reported as "unclassified skates." Skate landings reached 9,500 mt in 1969, but declined quickly during the 1970s, falling to 800 mt in 1981 (Figure 25). Landings have since increased substantially, partially in response to increased demand for lobster bait, and more significantly, to the increased export market for skate wings. Wings are taken from winter and thorny skates, the two species currently used for human consumption. Bait landings are presumed to be primarily from little skate, based on areas fished and known species distribution patterns. Landings for all skates increased to 12,900 mt in 1993 and then declined somewhat to 7,200 mt in 1995. Landings have increased again since 1995, and the 1998 reported commercial landings of 17,000 mt were the highest on record (Figure 25). In terms of total recreational landings for clearnose skate, they varied between 2000 and 145,000 fish, equivalent to 2 to 232 mt, during 1981-1998.

The biomass for the seven skate species is at a medium level of abundance. For the aggregate complex, the NEFSC spring survey index of biomass was relatively constant from 1968-1980, then increased significantly to peak levels in the mid-to late 1980s. The index of skate complex biomass then declined steadily until 1994, but has recently increased again. The large increase in skate biomass in the mid-to late 1980s was dominated by little and winter skate. The abundance of clearnose skate has been increasing since the mid-1980s (Figure 25),

although the recent increase in aggregate skate biomass has been due to an increase in all the small sized skates (<

100 cm max. length:

clearnose, little, rosette, and smooth), primarily little skate. Cleamose skate is not considered to be overfished (Northeast Fisheries Science Center 2000a, b).

Page 6 RESEARCH NEEDS Imprecise reporting of fishery statistics where several skate species are lumped together under one category (e.g., "unclassified skates" or "skates spp.") can fmask basic changes in community structure and profound reduction in populations of larger, slower growing species (Dulvy et al. 2000; Musick et al. 2000). Thus, it is important to have fishery-independent data on skates where the individual species are reported.

Northeast Fisheries Science Center (2000b) also suggests the following research needs:

More life history studies (including age, growth, maturity, and fecundity studies) are necessary.

Studies of stock structure are needed to identify unit stocks.

Explore possible stock-recruit relationships by examination of NEFSC survey data.

Investigate trophic interactions between skate species in the complex, and between skates and other groundfish.

Investigate the influence of annual changes in water temperature or other environmental factors on shifts in the range and distribution of the species in the skate

complex, and establish the bathymetric distribution of the species in the complex in the northwest Atlantic.

Investigate historical NEFSC survey data from the R/V Albatross III during 1948-1962 when they become available, as they may provide valuable historical context for long-term trends in skate biomass.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors thank Barry Shafer, John McCarthy, Tom Finneran, Annette Kalbach, and Meredith Lock for producing the maps and graphics. Thanks also to Claire Steimle and Judy. Berrien for literature reviews and interlibrary loans. Frank Almeida and Kathy Sosebee of the NEFSC Woods Hole provided much needed information, input, and reviews.

REFERENCES CITED Bigelow, H.B. and W.C. Schroeder. 1953a. Fishes of the Gulf of Maine. U.S. Fish Wild]. Serv., Fish. Bull. 53.

577 p.

Bigelow, H.B. and W.C. Schroeder. 1953b. Fishes of the western North Atlantic.

Part

2.

Sawfishes, guitarfishes, skates, and rays [and] chimaeroids. Mem.

Sears Foundation Mar. Res., Yale Univ. 1. 5.88 p.

Bowman, R.E., C.E. Stillwell, W.L. Michaels, and M.D.

Grosslein. 2000. Food of northwest Atlantic fishes and two species of squid. NOAA Tech. Mem. NMFS-NE-155. 138 p.

Breder, C.M. 1924. Nineteen twenty-three fish notes from

.Sandy Hook Bay. Copeia 127: 27-32.

Breder, C.M. and J.W. Atz. 1938. Further notes on the eggs of Raja eglanteria Bosc. Copeia 1938: 145-146.

Breder, C.M. and J.T. Nichols. 1937. The eggs of Raja eglanteria Bosc, with a key to the shells of the New York species. Copeia 1937: 181-184.

Bullis, H.R., Jr. and J.R. Thompson. 1965. Collections by the exploratory fishing vessels Oregon, Silver Bay, Combat, and Pelican made during 1956-1960 in the southwestern North Atlantic.-U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv.

Spec. Sci. Rep. Fish. 510. 130 p.

Cox, D.L.

and T.J.

Koob.

1993.

Predation on elasmobranch eggs. Environ. Biol. Fish. 38: 117-125.

Dahlberg, M.D. and E.P. Odum. 1970. Annual cycles of species occurrence, abundance, and diversity in Georgia estuarine fish populations. Am. Midland Naturalist 83: 382-392.

Daiber, F.C. 1960. A technique for age determination in the skate Raja eglanteria. Copeia 1960: 258-260.

Dulvy, N.K., J.D. Metcalfe, J. Glanville, M.G. Pawson, and J.D. Reynolds. 2000. Fishery stability, local extinctions, and shifts in community structure in skates. Conserv. Biol. 14: 283-293.

Edwards, R.L., R. Livingstone, Jr., and P.E. Hamer. 1962.

Winter water temperatures and an annotated list of fishes - Nantucket Shoals to Cape Hatteras. Albatross III Cruise no. 126. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. Spec. Sci.

Rep. Fish. 397. 31 p.

Fitz, E.S., Jr. and F.C. Daiber. 1963. An introduction to the biology of Raja eglanteria Bosc 1802 and Raja erinacea Mitchill 1825 as they occur in Delaware Bay. Bull. Bingham Oceanogr. Collect., Yale Univ.

18 (3): 69-97.

Frisk, M.G.,

T.J. Miller, and M.J. Fogarty. 2001.

Estimation and analysis of biological parameters in elasmobranch fishes: a comparative life history study.

Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 58: 969-981.

Geer, P.J.. 2002. Summary of essential fish habitat description and identification for Federally managed species inhabiting Virginia waters of Chesapeake Bay 1988-1999. Virginia Mar. Res. Rep. VMRR 2001-03, Jan. 2001, Revised June 2002. 169 p.

Gottschall, K, M.W. Johnson, and D.G. Simpson. 2000.

The distribution and size composition of finfish, American lobster, and long-finned squid in Long Island Sound based on the Connecticut Fisheries Division Bottom Trawl Survey, 1984-1994. NOAA Tech. Rep. NMFS 148. 195 p.

Jivoff, P. and K. Able. 2001. Characterization of the fish and selected decapods in Little Egg Harbor. J. Coast.

Res. 32: 178-196.

Libby, E.L. and P.W. Gilbert. 1960. Reproduction in the cleamosed skate, Raja eglanteria. Anat. Rec. 138:

365.

Page 7 Luer, C.A.

1999 Dec. 3. The skate. Mote Marine Laboratory.

<http://www.mote.org/SKATE.phtml>.

Accessed 2001 Feb. 15.

Luer, C.A. and P.W. Gilbert. 1985. Mating behavior, egg deposition, incubation period, and hatching in the clearnose skate, Raja eglanteria. Environ. Biol. Fish.

13: 161-171.

Massmann, W.H. 1962. Water temperatures, salinities, and fishes collected during trawl surveys of Chesapeake Bay and York and Pamunkey rivers, 1956-1959. Virginia Inst. Mar. Sci. Spec. Sci. Rep.

27.51 p.

McEachran, J.D. 1973. Biology of seven species of skates (Pisces: Rajidae). Ph.D. dissertation, Coll. William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA. 127 p.

McEachran, J.D. 2002. Skates. Family Rajidae. In B.B.

Collette and G. Klein-MacPhee eds. Bigelow and Schroeder's fishes of the Gulf of Maine. 3rd Edition.

p. 60-75. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. 748 p.

McEachran, J.D. and J.A. Musick. 1975. Distribution and relative abundance of seven species of skates (Pisces:

Rajidae) which occur between Nova Scotia and Cape Hatteras. Fish. Bull. (U.S.) 73: 110-136.

Michels, S.F. and M.J. Greco. 2000. Coastal finfish assessment survey -

annual report. Delaware Div.

Fish Wildl., Proj. F-42-R-I 1, Dover, DE. 72 p.

Musick, J.A., G. Burgess, G. Cailliet, M. Camhi, and S.

Fordham. 2000.. Management of sharks and their relatives (Elasmobranchii). Fisheries 25: 9-13.

Northeast Fisheries Science Center. 2000a. Report of the 30th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop (30th SAW): Public Review Workshop. Northeast Fish. Sci. Cent. Ref. Doc. 00-04. 53 p.

Northeast Fisheries Science Center. 2000b. Report of the 30th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop (30th SAW): Stock Assessment Review Committee (SARC) consensus

. summary of assessments.

Northeast Fish. Sci. Cent. Ref. Doc. 00-03.

Reid, R., F. Almeida, and C. Zetlin. 1999. Essential fish habitat source document:

Fishery independent surveys, data sources, and methods. NOAA Tech.

Mem. NMFS-NE-122.40 p.

Robinson, M.C. 1969. Elasmobranch records and range extensions for the Texas gulf coast. Texas. J. Sci. 2 1:

235-236.

Rountree, R.A. 2001 Dec. 28. Diets of NW Atlantic fishes and squid. <http://www.fishecologv.org/diets/

summary.htm>. Accessed 2002 July 18.

Schaefer, R.H.

1967. Species composition, size and seasonal abundance of fish in the surf waters of Long Island. N.Y. Fish Game J. 14: 1-46.

Schwartz, F.J.

1961.

Fishes of Chincoteague and Sinepuxent bays. Am. Midland Naturalist 65:' 384-408.

Schwartz, F.J. 1996. Biology of the clearnose skate, Raja eglanteria, from North Carolina. Fla. Sci. 59: 82-95.

Stehmann, M. and J.D. McEachran. 1978. Rajidae. In FAO species identifcation sheets for fishery purposes.

Western Central Atlantic (Fishing Area 31). W.

Fischer ed. FAO, Rome.

Struhsaker, P.

1969.

Demersal fish resources:

Composition, distribution, and commercial potential of the Continental Shelf stocks off Southeastern United States. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. Fish. Ind. Res. 4:

261-300.

Page 8 Table 1. Summary of habitat parameters for clearnose skate, based on the pertinent literature'.

Depth I

Temperature

[Substrate/SalinityI Predators Prey Captured from shore in the northern part of its range to 329 m.

Most abundant at depths < Ill m.

Captured at 280 m and 329 m off of Cape May, New Jersey in the winter.

In the Chesapeake Bight, it was more abundant in shallow water during spring and summer than during autumn and winter and was more abundant in the Bight during summer and autumn than in winter and spring. Captured at depths of 20 m off Shackleford Banks, North Carolina in 1993-1994.

Occurs over a temperature range of 9-30'C, but is most abundant between 9-20'C in northern part of range and 19-30'C in North Carolina.

Appeared in Delaware Bay at temperatures above 9VC (about April-November). Has been captured between 5-26°C in the Chesapeake Bight and 9-27°C south of Cape Hatteras. North of Cape Hatteras, it moves inshore and northward along the continental shelf during spring and early summer, and offshore and southward during autumn and early winter when water temperatures cool to 13-16'C.

In the lab, eggs from Gulf of Mexico skate hatched after a mean time of 82.2+/-3.6 days when incubated at a constant temperature of 20-22°C and photoperiod of 12 hours1.388889e-4 days 0.00333 hours 1.984127e-5 weeks 4.566e-6 months light/I 2 hours2.314815e-5 days 5.555556e-4 hours 3.306878e-6 weeks 7.61e-7 months dark. Eggs laid initially in the season hatched in about 88-94 days, those laid later required about 77-80 days.

Incubation periods showed a gradual decrease in duration from 91-77 days, correlating directly with order of egg pair denosition.

Found on soft bottoms along the continental shelf, but also occurs on rocky or gravelly bottoms.

In Long Island Sound during 1984-1994, they were distributed primarily on the sand and transitional bottom of the Mattituck Sill and Eastern Basin.

Only five skate observed west of the Sill, four of with were in depths > 18 m on mud bottom.

Reported in areas of Delaware Bay where the salinity was as low as 20 ppt, the Delaware Bay trawl surveys found a few of them at even lower salinities (see below). Captured off Shackleford Banks, North Carolina at salinities of 32-34 ppt.

Sharks, such as the sand tiger (Odontaspis taurus). One found in the stomach of a greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili).

Boring snails may prey on the eggs.

Polychaetes, amphipods, mysid shrimps (e.g.

N/eomysis americana), the shrimp Crangon Yeptemspinosa, crabs including Cancer, mud, hermit, and spider crabs, Ovalipes ocellatus, bivalves (e.g. Ensis directus), squids, and small fishes such as soles,

weakfish, butterfish, and scup.

In North Carolina, fish prey included striped anchovy, croaker, spot, blackcheek tonguefish.

'Bigelow and Schroeder (1953b); Edwards et al. (1962); Massman (1962); Fitz and Daiber (1963); Bullis and Thompson (1965); Schaefer (1967); Struhsaker (1969); McEachran (1973); McEachran and Musick (1975); Stehmann and McEachran (1978); Schwartz (1961, 1996); Luer and Gilbert (1985); Cox and Koob (1993); Bowman et al. (2000);

Gottschall et al. (2000); Rountree (2001); McEachran (2002).

Page 9 Table 2. Summary of habitat parameters for clearnose skate, based on the most recent NEFSC and state surveys mentioned in the text.

Life Stage Survey Depth Temperature Salinity/DO Juveniles 1963-2002 NEFSC trawl surveys from Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras.

Spring: range of about 1-300 m, most between 1-30 m.

Fall: range of about 1-80 m, around 60% found between 11-20 m.

Spring: range of 4-21 'C, majority spread between about 7-16'C.

Fall: range of about 7-27°C, most spread between about 18-22°C. peaks at 20-21 'C.

Spring: range of 26-36 ppt, majority between 32-35 ppt.

Fall: range of 27-36 ppt, majority at 31-32 ppt.

1992-1997 NEFSC Spring: range of 5 to around Spring: range of 13-18'C, Spring: range of 22-30 ppt, trawl surveys of the 14 m, most at 5-7 m.

majority at 16'C.

peaks at 25 ppt and 27 ppt /

Hudson-Raritan Summer: range of 4 m to about Summer: range of 17-24°C, range of 8-10 ppm, around estuary.

26 m, most between 5-8 m.

most between 20-22°C.

50% at 8 ppm.

Fall: range of 5-14 m, most Fall: range of 13-18'C, about Summer: range of 23-31 ppt /

between 5-7 m.

50% at 16'C.

range of 3-9 ppm, most between 6-7 ppm.

Fall: range of 20-31 ppt, peak at 21 ppt / range of 5-8 ppm, most between 7-8 ppm.

1966-1999 Winter: very few found, at 8 Winter: very few found, range Winter: very few found, at 24 Delaware Division m, 13 m, and especially 18 m. of 7-8°C.

ppt, 28-29 ppt, and at 34 ppt /

of Fish and Wildlife Spring: range of 7-22 m, a few Spring: range of 6-20'C, most range of 9-10 ppm.

bottom trawl at 4 m and 28 m, peaks, at 8-9 between 9-18'C.

Spring: range of 17-33 ppt, surveys of m and 13 m.

Summer: range of 14-27°C, peaks at 26-27 ppt and 30 ppt /

Delaware Bay Summer: roughly bimodal generally occurred or were range of 6-15 ppm, most (juveniles and distribution of approximately caught with increasing between 8-10 ppm.

adults combined).

5-23 m, peaks at about 7-8 m frequency from 16'C to about Summer: range of about 19-32 and 13-14 m.

22-23°C.

ppt, a few at 12-13 ppt, a peak Fall: range of 6-21 m, a few at Fall: range of 8-24*C, most at 30 ppt / range of 5-10 ppm, 24 m, most between about 8-between about 16-21 'C.

majority between 6-7 ppm.

14 m; peak (about 20%) at 8 Fall: range of approximately

m.

15-32 ppt, majority between 28-30 ppt / range of 6-11 ppm,

_majority at 6-8 ppm.

1988-1999 Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) trawl surveys of Chesapeake Bay (juveniles and adults combined).

Range from 1-33 m, most between about 7-15 m.

Catches common between 8-24'C.

> 85% of the catch at > 22 ppt.

Page 10 Table 2. cont'd.

Life StageI Survey Depth I

Temperature Salinity/DO Adults 1963-2002 NEFSC trawl surveys from Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras.

Spring: range of about 1-300 m, majority at 11-30 m..

Fall: range of about 1-50 m, with approximately 60%

between 11-20 m.

Spring: range of 4-22°C, most spread between about 6-15'C.

Fall: range of 10-25°C, most between 18-22°C.

Spring: range of 26-36 ppt, majority between 32-35 ppt.

Fall: range between 27-35 ppt, majority at 31-32 ppt.

1992-1997 NEFSC Spring: range of 5-16 m, most Spring: range of about 9-Spring: range of 23-30 opt, trawl surveys of the between 5-8 m.

21 'C, most between 15-17'C, peaks at 25 and 27 ppt / range Hudson-Raritan Summer: range of 4 m to about about 45% at 16'C.

of 6-11 ppm, majority between estuary.

26 m, most found between 5-8 Summer: range of 17-24°C, 7-9 ppm.

M.

peak at 22°C.

Summer: range of 23-31 ppt, Fall: range of 4 m to about 17 Fall: range of about 12-18 'C peaks at 27 and 29 ppt / range m, most between 5-8 m.

(a few at 9°C), most at 16-of 3-10 ppm, majority between 17°C.

6-7 ppm.

Fall: range of 20-32 ppt, most between 26-30 ppt / range of 5-10 ppm, majority between 6-8 ppm.

1966-1999 See juveniles.

See juveniles.

Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife bottom trawl surveys of Delaware Bay (juveniles and adults combined).

1988-1999 Virginia Institute.of Marine Science (VIMS) trawl surveys of Chesapeake Bay (juveniles and adults combined).

See juveniles.

Page 11 X

"z AW:

,,.,:7:

(,"

Figure 1. The clearnose skate, Raja eglanteria Bosc 1802. Top: male, from Murdy et al. (1997). Bottom: female, from Bigelow and Schroeder (1953b).

Page 12 Figure 2. Egg case of cleamose skate, from Luer (1999).

Page 13 Decapoda 51.9 %

p Polychaeta 3.9' 1

Decapoda 47.2 %

Polychaeta 4. 1%

Crustacea shrimp 4.9%

Other prey phyla 1.6 %

Fish 15 973-1980 n = 38 Amphipoda 6.5%

Crustacea 9.1%

Mollusca 7.8 %

Other prey phyla 5.2 %

.6%

Crustacea 4.9%

Fish 29.3 %

Mollusca 8.1 %

1981-1990 n = 86 Figure 3. Abundance (% occurrence) of the major prey items of cleamose skate collected during NEFSC bottom trawl surveys from 1973-1980 and 1981-1990. Methods for sampling, processing, and analysis of samples differed between the time periods [see Reid et al. (1999) for details].

Page 14 Winter/juveniles

(<= 60 cm) 0 Present Clearnose Skate NEFSC Bottom Trawl Surveys (1964 - 2002)

Figure 4. Distribution of juvenile cleamose skate collected during winter NEFSC bottom trawl surveys [1964-2002, all years combined; see Reid et al. (1999) for details]. Survey stations where juveniles were not found are not shown.

Page 15 Figure 5. Distribution and abundance of juvenile cleamose skate collected during spring NEFSC bottom trawl surveys

[1968-2002, all years combined; see Reid et al. (1999) for details].

Page 16 Summer/juveniles

(<= 60 cm) 0 Present Clearnose Skate 0

S NEFSC Bottom Trawl Surveys (1963 - 1995)

Figure 6. Distribution of juvenile clearnose skate collected during summer NEFSC bottom trawl surveys [1963-1995, all years combined; see Reid el al. (1999) for details]. Survey stations where juveniles were not found are not shown.

Page 17 Figure 7. Distribution and abundance of juvenile clearnose skate collected during fall NEFSC bottom trawl surveys

[1963-2001, all years combined; see Reid et al. (1999) for details].

Page 18 Clearnose Skate

""R" Massachusetts Inshore Trawl Survey (1978 - 2002)

Spring/juveniles

(<= 60 cm)

Number per tow 0

1-10 Massachusetts 0z- -

1 Nantucket Figure 8. Distribution and abundance ofjuvenile cleamose skate in Massachusetts coastal waters collected during the spring and autumn Massachusetts inshore trawl surveys [1978-2002, all years combined; see Reid et al. (1999) for details].

Page 19 Figure 8. cont'd.

Page 20 1984-94 V7 Tcv 1114 Sum =1 Max i

~

~Min 1

"0=

A~Ma

= I~

3 cZ2' "

3 '

3

? +

%t.<*\\7'1!*Mini=

1 x=O 1984 -94 J

)

').<

33I

~ 4Z-r~.

.~~t~2ows950

~1Y'~

~

1' '57'1 ~

Sum) 24 Max=M Noveiber I

MM0 Figure 9. Distribution and abundance ofjuvenile and adult clearnose skate collected in Long Island Sound, based on the finfish surveys of the Connecticut Fisheries Division, 1984-1994 (from Gottschall et al. [2000]). Circle diameter is proportional to the number of fish caught, and is scaled to the maximum catch (indicated by "max ="). Collections were made with a 14 m otter trawl at about 40 stations chosen by stratified random design.

Page 21 74" 15' 74 10' CLEARNOSE SKATE--Juveniles (<= 60 cm)

Winter (92 - 97)

Hudson/Raritan Trawl Survey Fish Caught/station (excluding 0 catch):

Mean: 1 Min: 1 Max: 1 Length (cm): Min: 48 Max: 48 740 05"

/.

/

'I

,/

74' 00'

--:ýHudson River

" New York 73.'55 0**40 35 Staten Island i

/]*/

i-' e-,J S

7/

N I-40 30 740 15 Ni 10 10, 74*00QQ umber/Tow 1-2

, 3-5

6-10 40°25

>10 New Jersey 74' 10' 74' 055, CLEARNOSE SKATE--Juveniles (<= 60 cm)

Spring (92 - 97)

Hudson/Raritan Trawl Survey Fish Caught/station (excluding 0 catch):

Mean: 1 Min: 1 Max: 3 Length (cm): Min: 43 Max: 60

-i.Hudson River

/

\\New York 730 55"

=;.............

4 °3 4.Q 0 35

.¢ I,

N 7 7

.7-'

Staten Island

.../f:!

40" 30' X",-

.2 New Jersey Number/Tow 1-2 3-5 6-10

--1400 25

>10

, 'K,'

~-~

Figure 10. Seasonal distribution and abundance of juvenile cleamose skate in the Hudson-Raritan estuary, based on Hudson-Raritan trawl surveys, 1992-1997 [see Reid et al. (1999) for details].

Page 22 740 15 740 10' 740 05 74° 00" 73055 CLEARNOSE SKATE--Juveniles (<= 60 cm)

Summer (92 - 96)

Hudson/Raritan Trawl Survey Fish Caught/station (excluding 0 catch):

Mean:2 Min: 1 Max: 11 Length (cm): Min: 43 Max: 60 S

Hudson River New York 40 35

/

30 0

-1.

'ft I',

Staten Island V

//

,V

,\\/

Vn 7"

?'

io;

74'00Q Number/Tow 1-2

3-5

6-10 New Jersey

-140* 25 '

74° 15 74" 10 CLEARNOSE SKATE--Juveniles (<=60 cm)

Fall (92 - 96)

Hudson/Raritan Trawl Survey Fish Caught/station (excluding 0 catch):

Mean: 2 Min: 1 Max: 5 Length (cm): Min: 43 Max: 60 740 05

\\

Hudson River

>. New

.N...

>10 730 55" York -

.4Q0 35

/

'I-

/

Staten Island

- 40° 30" 7r')

As Th~

L,:. \\ Numb*

(" Ot NI 0

.... C.

0

-v..

i,

'a" S.....

2 Ier/Tow 1-2 3-5 6-10 400 25'

>10 New Jersey

[ *....,............

+

Figure 10. cont'd.

Page 23 750 30 '

750 20 '

750 10 '

750 00 "

74° 50 '

CLEARNOSE SKATE All Size Classes Combined Winter (1966 - 1999)

Delaware Bay Trawl Survey Average Number of Fish Caught and Percent Occurrence NJ

.390 30

-390 20

390 10 0%

~'

K_

0.00 0%

~

5 0.00 0%

0.05 5%

"\\\\\\\\

\\\\.

0.00

)

0%

0.00 0%

0.00 0%/

0.00 0.71 1 A0/^

0.00 0%

0.00

-i-00/0 0.00 00/

/

y 39000 mcape

Times Station Sampled DE

,J \\

U1/o,10 0.10 10%

CaAuinpe/

h k VAirl~ilin Henlopený,

1-5 10-22

° 31-40 o 41-50 9 51-61 3850" Data Source:

Delaware Division of Fis Figure 11. Seasonal distribution and abundance of juvenile and adult clearnose skate in Delaware Bay, based on Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife bottom trawl surveys from 1966-1999 (all years combined). Surveys were conducted monthly at 9-14 fixed stations, using a 9.1 m otter trawl towed for 20-30 min (for methods see Michels and Greco 2000).

Page 24 750 30 "

750 20 '

750 10 '

750 00" 740 50' 139 30' CLEARNOSE SKATE All Size Classes Combined Spring (1966 - 1999)

Delaware Bay Trawl Survey Average Number of Fish Caught and Percent Occurrence NJ r5)

-1390 20 0.07 0

2%

1.51 0

34%

390 10'

//

r~

/

3.38 4 "o/4 2.19 0

38%

1.30 30%

2.72 53%

00' 0.00 0%

1.47 6

32%

2.38 51%

0.00 0%

0.00 0Olo DE 3.36 2i%

Data Source:

Cape /

Delaware Division of Fish & Wildilfe Henlopen'

Times Station Sampled 1-5 10-22

31 -40 o 41 -50

51 -61

-138 50 Figure 1I. cont'd.

Page 25 750 30 '

750 20 "

750 10 '

750 00 '

742 50 '

(

~~>

zX~-.~

CLEARNOSE SKATE All Size Classes Combined Summer (1966 - 1999)

Delaware Bay Trawl Survey Average Number of Fish Caught.and Percent Occurrence NJ r

390 30"

390 20 0.63 18%

1.g2 33%

4.46 0

58%

7.57 80%

4,J7 S61%/

2.67 33%

11.00 f--

100%

9.67 100%

S 39° 10"

/

ý~390 00 cape ~

Times Station Sampled 2.34

\\

53%

14.46 0

73%

13611 83%

20.32 DE 82%

Data Source:

Cape Delaware Division of Fish & Wildilfe Henlopen!

1-5 10-22

31 -40 o 41-50

51-61

~~850~

Figure II. cont'd.

Page 26 750 30 '

750 20 "

750 10 '

750 00 '

CLEARNOSE SKATE All Size Classes Combined Fall (1966 - 1999)

Delaware Bay Trawl Survey 740 50

ý390 30' Average Number of Fish Caught and Percent Occurrence

ý21 NJ

(

/

390 20 1

(K 0.76 0

31%0/

390 10 1.70 0

37%

I-.

\\

1.79

,~~1 56%/

.4 2.Z74 53%

7.49 0

59%

.03 57%

2.67 67%

00' 1.97 0

37%

4.49 0

63%

10.00 80%

26.67 100%0 L Jr 13.94

,780/o

Times Station Sampled 1-5 10-22

31-40 o 41 -50 e 51-61 i38050 (N

~1 \\

Data Source:

Delaware Division of Fish & Wildilfe Cape /

Henlopeni

-1. Ir. 1 11 '.111 Figure 11. cont'd.

Page 27 0.30 0.25 -

- 0.20 0-0.10 c

0.05 0.00 J

F M

A M

J J

A S

0 N

D Month Figure 12. Catch per unit effort for total catch of juvenile and adult clearnose skate in Chesapeake Bay, from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science's (VIMS) trawl surveys, 1988-1999 (all years combined). Monthly surveys were conducted

,using a random stratified design of the main stem of the Bay using a 9.1 m semi-balloon otter trawl with 38 mm mesh and 6.4 mm cod end with a tow duration of five minutes. Adapted from Geer (2002).

Page 28

'~ Catch Key:

-7 a 11l-25

@i4 26-50 4

Winter

>50 WintH Spring N.

r r.....

r.

-s i-,

'~'~W

~

N V[4 ý-6 r Summer 1,~Fall Figure 13. Seasonal distribution and abundance of juvenile and adult cleamose skate in Chesapeake Bay, from the VIMS trawl surveys, 1988-1999 (all years combined). Adapted from Geer (2002).

Page 29 Figure 14. Distribution of adult clearnose skate collected during winter NEFSC bottom trawl surveys [1964-2002, all years combined; see Reid et al. (1999) for details]. Survey stations where adults were not found are not shown.

Page 30 Spring/adults

(> 60 cm)

Number per tow 1 -10 0

11 -100 0

101-1000 0

> 1000 Clearnose Skate NEFSC Bottom Trawl Surveys (1968 - 2002)

Figure 15. Distribution and abundance of adult clearnose skate collected during spring NEFSC bottom trawl surveys

[1968-2002, all years combined; see Reid et al. (1999) for details].

Page 31 cm) 0 Present Clearnose Skate NEFSC Bottom Trawl Surveys (1963-1995)

Figure 16. Distribution of adult clearnose skate collected during summer NEFSC bottom trawl surveys [1963-1995, all years combined; see Reid et al. (1999) for details]. Survey stations where adults were not found are not shown.

Page 32 Figure 17. Distribution and abundance of adult cleamose skate collected during fall NEFSC bottom trawl surveys [1963-2001, all years combined; see Reid et al. (1999) for details].

Page 33 74' 15" 74' 10' CLEARNOSE SKATE--Adults (>= 61 cm)

Spring (92 - 97)

Hudson/Raritan Trawl Survey Fish Caught/station (excluding 0 catch):

Mean: 2 Min: 1 Max: 11 Length (cm): Min: 61 Max: 75 Staten 74' 5"

74 00' 730 55"

\\\\ --*Hudson River

/

S\\ "New York p

400 35

,n(.

/

4 Staten Island J..

/

W,)

.1

,'4' 4030

-'W/

.4

.4 V

New Jersey

.-¢.

-0 740' 0 Number/Tow 1-2

3-5

6-10 40025"

>10 730 55 vy ork 4

--40° 35 74' 15 740 10' CLEARNOSE SKATE--Adults (>= 61 cm)

Summer (92 - 96)

Hudson/Raritan Trawl Survey Fish Caught/station (excluding 0 catch):

Mean: 3 Min: 1 Max: 21 Length (cm): Min: 61 Max: 79 S-..-,

74' 05"

4........

.. - 1...

4-Hudson River

/

ae

,-4 0

S..

O,

.1- ~-'1 4.-

/1 Staten Island

.1,/),

9 0

0*

0 0*

-I.

.)

--'2:.

(

J

Number/Tow 1-2 J40° 30" New Jersey

3-5 1

6-10 i40* 25"

>10 J

Figure 18. Seasonal distribution and abundance of adult cleamose skate in the Hudson-Raritan estuary, based on Hudson-Raritan trawl surveys, 1992-1997 [see Reid et al. (1999) for details].

Page 34 740 15' 74 10'"

CLEARNOSE SKATE--Adults (>= 61 cm)

Fall (92-96)

Hudson/Raritan Trawl Survey Fish Caught/station (excluding 0 catch):

Mean: 2 Min: 1 Max: 5 Length (cm): Min: 61 Max: 75 74'05 "

74, 00 73°'55 "

.V--~--\\---"----

\\

--. Hudson River New York 40 35 2

Staten Island

,7/

New Jersey Number/Tow

'01-2 3-5

-)

6-10

-10

-i40" 30'

.400 25 Figure 18. cont'd.

Page 35 Cleamose Skate NEFSC Bottom Trawl Survey Spring/Juveniles 25 20 0)15 10 n5 1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Bottom Temperature (°C) 40 30 a_10t 0

51 1,*

, R-, n.- R.

,L 171- 0o 0 o

C c

ccC C

0 0

Bottom Depth (m)

E] Trawls N=10537 M Occurrence N=376 0 Catch N=1 850

[I Trawls N=12193

Occurrence N=417 E0 Catch N=1 936 40 -

30 a)2 20-a) a-10 0

[I Trawls N=1959

Occurrence N=80 0 Catch N=184 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 Salinity (PPT)

Figure 19. Spring and fall distributions of juvenile clearnose skate and trawls relative to bottom water temperature, depth, and salinity based on NEFSC bottom trawl surveys (1963-2002; all years combined). White bars give the distribution of all the trawls, black bars give the distribution of all trawls in which cleamnose skate occurred, and gray bars represent, within each interval, the percentage of the total number of clearnose skate caught.

Page 36 Cleamose Skate NEFSC Bottom Trawl Survey Fall/Juveniles 20-15 a)2 10 a) 5 iD D LLUhh~

[I Trawls N=11844 0 Occurrence N=696 oi Catch N=1 821 I

2 4

6 8

10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Bottom Temperature (°C) 80 0

60 2 40 n

20 0

h i-

"L 3

,EL-rL-Ol Trawls N=13543 0 Occurrence N=779 0 Catch N=1974 n

n iI I iI I iI I EII rI I i*

IU iI I iM i

oD a a

a a

a 0

0 a

a 0

0 0

C'N c?)

1?U~C r 0?

0 CN'J t

CIO

ý2 0

0 0

CýJ C?)

i I?

LAO 0M c'

(N C>

CD)0 Bottom Depth (in) 50 40 30 C-)a) 20 10 0

0 Trawls N=1956 M Occurrence N=158

[3 Catch N=334 27 29 30 31 32 33 Salinity (PPT) 34 35 36 37 Figure 19. cont'd.

Page 37 Spring C:

(D a-30 20 10 El Trawls N=330 A Occurrence N=22 ui Catch N=28 0

0 2

4 6

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Depth (m) a)

a-_

50 40 30 20 10 0

-i lint El Trawls N=326

Occurrence N=22 11 Catch N=28 11 ýý B 1 ý 1 I]

[4.

0 2

4 6

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 Temperature (0C) 28 Q) a)

a-30 20 10 1

[In "

11

[1 fl u Ilh i i F1 El Trawls N=326

Occurrence N=22 12 Catch N=28 0

,,n,,,

n,,,,,.,/-./-.,

0 2

4 6

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 Salinity (PPT) a)

12) 60

.50 40 30 20 10 A

R El Trawls N=177

Occurrence N=9

[* Catch N=13 1_1 VI 0

1 2

3 4

5 6

7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 DO (PPM)

Figure 20. Seasonal distributions of juvenile cleatnose skate and trawls relative to bottom water temperature, depth, salinity, and dissolved oxygen based on NEFSC Hudson-Raritan estuary trawl surveys (1992-1997; all years combined).

White bars give the distribution of all the trawls, black bars give the distribution of all trawls in which clearnose skate occurred, and gray bars represent, within each interval, the percentage of the total number of clearnose skate caught.

Page 38 Summer 0) 0 0) 0~

30 20 10

.-In.

An II Trawls N=356

Occurrence N=97 ED Catch N=222 0

2 4

6 8

10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Depth (m) 40 -

30-(D o 20-10 0

30-A I[ 1 Ii

~

[2 Trawls N=352

Occurrence N=95 12 Catch N=215 0

2 4

6 8

10 12 14 16 18 20 Temperature (°C) 22 24 26 28 C0)

C.,

0) 0~

20 10 0

40 El Trawls N=347 SOccurrence N=94 El Catch N=214 2

4 6

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 Salinity (PPT) 0 30 20 10 10 0-1 0

1 2

3 4

5 6

7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

. DO (PPM)

Trawls N=215

Occurrence N=60 El Catch N=113 Figure 20. cont'd.

Page 39 Fall 40 30 :

E] Trawls N=586 o*

20 Occurrence N=1 8 20 El Catch N=30 100-0 2

4 6

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Depth (m) 50 -.

40 LI Trawls N=570 30 o Occurrence N=16 n4) 20 Elm

[ Catch N=27 0

10-0 2

4 6

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Temperature (0C) 40 30 ii Trawls N=532

0 Occurrence N= 16 o20 -El Catch N=27 10 Ig 0

2 4

6 8

10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 Salinity (PPT) 50 40 ED Trawls N=458 30-0 Occurrence N=7 o

20-

[] Catch N=7 20-10 0

1 2

3 4

5 6

7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 DO (PPM)

Figure 20. cont'd.

Page 40 Winter t!

Q) 90-80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

0 Trawls N=1 66 0 Occurrence N=4 0 Catch N=12 0

2 4

6 8

10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Depth (m)

C C.)

90 80-70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

Trawls N=1 66

Occurrence N=4 11 Catch N=12 T

14 18T20 2

4 26 2

4

.6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 0

2 Temperature (0C) 30 20 10 Ca, C.)

U) 0~

1] Trawls N=1 57

Occurrence N=4

Catch N=12 0

0 2

4 6

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 Salinity (PPT)

E 0..

100 90-80 70-60 50-40 30 20-10-0 El Trawls N=125 0 Occurrence N=3 El Catch N=1 1

ý 1 -1 I

0 1 2

3 4

5 6

7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 DO (PPM)

Figure 21. Seasonal distributions of juvenile and adult cleamose skate and trawls relative to bottom temperature, depth, salinity, and dissolved oxygen based on Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife trawl surveys from 1966-1999 (all years combined). White bars give the distribution of all the trawls, black bars give the distribution of all trawls in which the skate occurred, and gray bars represent, within each interval, the percentage of the total number of skate caught.

Page 41 Spring 30 (D

CL 20 10 0

20

Trawls N=378 U Occurrence N=105

[] Catch N=588 ji 0

2 4

6 8

10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Depth (m) c (D

a_)

10 0

4 6

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 Temperature (0C)

El Trawls N=373 0 Occurrence N=105 El Catch N=585 24 26 28 0-2 20 -

C a)_ 10 -

0 2

4 6

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 Salinity (PPT) 0

] Trawls N=374 o Occurrence N=105 li Catch N=585

i Trawls N=312

Occurrence N=95

]I Catch N=514 40 -1 a)

C-)

IL 30 20-10 0-0 1

2 3

4 5

6 7

8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 DO (PPM)

Figure 21. cont'd.

Page 42 Summer 20 -

a) a)

a-10 -

11 I]i&i~i Li Trawls N=512

Occurrence N=242 El Catch N=2759 I

0-30-0 2

4 6

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Depth (m)

U) 3.)

20 10 Li Trawls N=509 mOccurrence N=242 ED Catch N=2759 T --

T-*--

F-7 I-I T--

-,---I--

I J

I' T T

T 1

-]IL E -

0 2

4 6

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Temperature (0C) 0 30 C_

i E (D) 20 10 Li Trawls N=498

Occurrence N=232

i Catch N=2695 0

0 2

4 6

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 Salinity (PPT) a-60 50 40 30 20 10 0 -

STrawls N=415 m Occurrence N=173 El Catch N=1505 r-

~

T V

A I

0 1

2 3

4 5

6 7

8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 DO (PPM)

Figure 21. cont'd.

Page 43 Fall 30 0

C) n~

20 10 2

4 6

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Depth (m) 1] Trawls N=422 i Occurrence N=185 ED Catch N=1313 0*

0 30 C

a)

CL 20 10 n-D Trawls N=405 MOccurrence N=175 1z Catch N=1302 FIiiI,-

0 0

2 4

6 8

10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Temperature (°C) 40 30 C0 10 0

FE I~r,, [I][I1~i~1I Li Trawls N=399

Occurrence N=172

i Catch N=1271 ml Ill li]

r 11

ý, 11 F. 11 1 FL FL F-0 2

4 6

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 Salinity (PPT) 40 -

30 S20 (D

0.-

10 0

ýI]

E] Trawls N=341 N Occurrence N=121 0 Catch N=480 FL-0 1

2

-3 4

5 6

7 8

DO (PPM) 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Figure 21. cont'd.

Page 44 Stations ED1 Catches 20 15 I 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 '29 31 33 Bottom Temperature (°C) 25 0I-i5 I10 0I I 3 5 7 9 i1 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 Salinity (ppt).

301 25 20 15' 1(1 1 3 5 7 9 It 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 2729)31 33 Depth (m)

Figure 22. Hydrographic preferences for juvenile and adult clearnose skate in Chesapeake Bay, from the VIMS trawl surveys, 1988-1999 (all years combined). Adapted from Geer (2002).

Page 45 Clearnose Skate NEFSC Bottom Trawl Survey Spring/Adults 25-20 t-15 b 10 5

0 o Trawls N=10537 0 Occurrence N=383 E0 Catch N=.1 009 50-40

, 30 a 20 10 0

ri 1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Bottom Temperature (°C)

,,~

D irr

,[.R..ni rt-*.- Ll-Ir.n._.n..n

.n

[F_,,

0 0

0

(:)

0 (0

C I?

L

?N2 2

ý 0

(

Bottom Depth (m)

[I Trawls N=12193 M Occurrence N=417 0 Catch N=1 075 40-30 C:

L2 20 n

10 0

[I Trawls N=1959 M Occurrence N=133

[0 Catch N=310 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 Salinity (PPT)

Figure 23. Spring and fall distributions of adult clearnose skate and trawls relative to bottom water temperature, depth, and salinity based on NEFSC bottom trawl surveys (1963-2002; all years combined). White bars give the distribution of all the trawls, black bars give the distribution of all trawls in which cleamose skate occurred, and gray bars represent, within each interval, the percentage of the total number of clearnose skate caught.

Page 46 Cleamose Skate NEFSC Bottom Trawl Survey Fall/Adults 25 20 -

0 15 Q) 1005

[I Trawls N=11844 m Occurrence N=416

[3 Catch N=805 80 60 L) 40 n

20 0

2 4

6 8

10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Bottom Temperature (0C)

N I

?Tr-9 c

2ý 0

0 0

0n r

r CNI C?

i U?

OA N

M Bottom Depth (m)

[I Trawls N=1 3543 0 Occurrence N=477 El Catch N=901 50 40 30

_ 20 10 0

0 Trawls N=1956 0 Occurrence N=138 0 Catch N=285 27 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 Salinity (PPT)

Figure 23. cont'd.

Page 47 Spring 40 30O 02 2

4

-. 0,-

2 - -

6

[- Trawls N=330 N Occurrence N=43 IEl Catch N=97

[T *14 1 '

'I f

i l~r P -I t

F 'L-rE T,-i1--r-l r--*-'-,

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Depth (m)

C.

50 40 30 20 10 0

[] Trawls N=326

Occurrence N=42

Catch N=96 ii iiit 11 0

2 4

6 8

10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Temperature (°C) 40 30 20/-

10 -

0 El Trawls N=326 Im Occurrence N=42 ii ~I~1iM Catch N=96 2

4 "6

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 Salinity (PPT) 0 C:

0-50 40 30-20 10 AP

!17 El Trawls N=1 77 m Occurrence N=25 El Catch N=44 f) 0 1

2 3

4 5

6 7

8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 DO (PPM)

Figure 24. Seasonal distributions of adult cleamose skate and trawls relative to bottom water temperature, depth, salinity, and dissolved oxygen based on NEFSC Hudson-Raritan estuary trawl surveys (1992-1997; all years combined). White bars give the distribution of all the trawls, black bars give the distribution of all trawls in which cleamose skate occurred, and gray bars represent, within each interval, the percentage of the total number of cleamose skate caught.

Page 48 Summer C*

ci 30 20 10 F1. II l iti[i~F~

WI L-1 Trawls N=356 o Occurrence N=1 53 ED Catch N=457 0i 40 30 0

2 4

6 8

10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Depth (m) 20 1010 0

i Trawls N=352

Occurrence N=151 11 Catch N=452 0

2 4

6 8

10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Temperature (°C) 20 a)

C-, 10 II

-nr-nIyIin

-lrn -

T 7 n-n-1 Ii i I týn-n-7-I-1i 0

2 4

6 8

10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 Salinity (PPT)

F.

.l'= -* * --

T I-

-T C,

0 1

2 3

4 5

6 7

8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 DO (PPM)

] Trawls N=347 I Occurrence N=148 Catch N=443

].Trawls N=215

Occurrence N=1106 Catch N=309 50"-

40 30 20 10 0

Figure 24. cont'd.

Page 49 Fall 30 20 10 CL tl *

,o Occurrence N=51

[] Trawis N=586 Ell Catch N83 2

4 6

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26-28 Depth (m) 0 0 C

a)

C-,

50 40 30, 20 10 0

ii 1 rL~ r

i Trawls N=570

Occurrence N=48 LI Catch N=79 r

0 2

4 6

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Temperature (°C)

C 0)

C.)

0) 0~

30 20 10-E] Trawls N=532

Occurrence N=48

Catch N=79 0

IIIIllmlllllllll

.11 0

2 4

6 8

10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 Salinity (PPT) 50 -

40 -

30 -

20 -

C C.,

10 0

-nI Ii " t..

...w...

El Trawls N=458 0 Occurrence N=40 0, Catch N=61 i

0 1

2 3

4 5

6 7

8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 DO (PPM)

Figure 24. cont'd.

Page 50 Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, Southern New England, Mid-Atlantic Bight 18000 -

0.25 1Skate complex, commercial landings (mt) 600 ---

Survey index of clearnose skate biomass 14000 012000 CD

,.2~~

0.15CD 10000 CD1 E

U) 8000--

C "0.10 S

6000 0,

Cu 0

4000 0.05S 2000 0

I 1,

I I ri i

, i 0.00 o

C'4

.1

(.0 00 0

C'4 (N

(0 C

0 N

I (0

o00 C NJ e

T (D0o0 0

-0

-0 (0

- N-N-

N-

-O

-O 0

0 0

0 0*2

0)

0) 0)b 0

0)

0) 0 Year Figure 25. NEFSC spring survey index of clearnose skate biomass and commercial landings of the seven species skate complex from the Gulf of Maine to the Mid-Atlantic Bight.

ML072080214

Text

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