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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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t~4l O Co 4 14 NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-174

'IIF 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

& NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-174 Cý 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.

EssentialFish HabitatSource 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 inchanges 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 independent data sets from NMFS and several coastal commercial and recreationalfisheries is the continuing states. The species reports are also the source for the loss of marine, estuarine, and other aquatichabitats. current EFH designations by the New England and Mid-Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Atlantic Fishery Management Councils, and Management Act (October 11, 1996) understandably have begun to be referred to as the "EFH source documents."

The long-term viability of living marine resources NMFS provided guidance to the regional fishery depends on protection of their habitat. management councils for identifying and describing EFH NMFS Strategic Plan for Fisheries of their managed species. Consistent with this guidance, Research (February 1998) the species reports present information on current and historic stock sizes, geographic range, and the period and The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and location of major life history stages. The habitats of Management Act (MSFCMA), which was reauthorized managed species are described by the physical, chemical, and amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act (1996), and biological components of the ecosystem where the requires the eight regional fishery management councils species occur. Information on the habitat requirements is to describe and identify essential fish -habitat (EFH) in provided for each life history stage, and it includes, where their respective regions, to specify actions to conserve available, habitat and environmental variables that control and enhance that EFH, and to minimize the adverse or limit distribution, abundance, growth, reproduction, effects of fishing on EFH. Congress defined EFH as mortality, and productivity.

"those waters and substrate necessary to fish for Identifying and describing EFH are the first steps in spawning, breeding, feeding or growth to maturity." The the process of protecting, conserving, and enhancing MSFCMA requires NMFS to assist the regional fishery essential habitats of the managed species. Ultimately, management councils in the implementation of EFH in NMFS, the regional fishery management councils, fishing their respective fishery management plans. participants, Federal and state agencies, and other NMFS has taken a broad view of habitat as the area organizations will have to cooperate to achieve the habitat used by fish throughout their life cycle. Fish use habitat goals established by the MSFCMA.

for spawning, feeding, nursery, migration, and shelter, but A historical note: the EFH species reports effectively most habitats provide only a subset of these functions. recommence a series of reports published by the NMFS Fish may change habitats with changes in life history Sandy Hook (New Jersey) Laboratory (now formally stage, seasonal and geographic distributions, abundance, known as the James J. Howard Marine Sciences and interactions with other species. The type of habitat, Laboratory) from 1977 to 1982. These reports, which as well as its attributes and functions, are important for were formally labeled as Sandy Hook Laboratory sustaining the production of managed species. Technical Series Reports, but informally known as The Northeast Fisheries Science Center compiled the "Sandy Hook Bluebooks," summarized biological and available information on the distribution, abundance, and fisheries data for 18 economically important species. The habitat requirements for each of the species managed by fact that the bluebooks continue to be used two decades the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management after their publication persuaded us to make their Councils. That information is presented in this series of successors - the 38 EFH source documents - available to 38 EFH species reports (plus one consolidated methods the public through publication in the NOAA Technical report). The EFH species reports are a survey of the Memorandum NMFS-NE series.

important literature as well as original analyses of fishery-JAMES J. HOWARD MARINE SCIENCES LABORATORY JEFFREY N. CROSS, (FORMER) CHIEF HIGHLANDS, NEW JERSEY ECOSYSTEMS PROCESSES DIVISION SEPTEMBER 1999 NORTHEAST FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER

Page iv Page v Contents In tro du ctio n ...................................................................................................................................................................................... I L ife H isto ry .......................................................................................................................................................................................

G eo g rap h ical Distrib u tion ............................................................................................................................................................. 2 H ab itat Ch aracteristics ...................................................................................................................................................................... 3 S ta tu s o f the Sto c k s ........................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Re.......

R e se a rch N e eds ......................................................................................................................................................................... 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 constant temperature and photoperiod. The mean incubation period was around 82 days. 'Eggs laid initially The clearnose skate (Raja eglanteria Bosc 1802; in the season hatched in about 88-94 days, while those Figure 1) occurs along the eastern United States coast laid late in theý season required about 77-80 days. The from the Nova Scotian Shelf to northeastern Florida as incubation periods showed a gradual decrease induration well as in the northern Gulf of Mexico from northwestern from 91-77 days, correlating directly with the order of Florida to Texas (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953a; egg pair deposition. [For a description of hatching and Robinson 1969; McEachran and Musick 1975; Stehmann -egg deposition and development, as well as the mating and McEachran 1978; see also Northeast Fisheries behavior of clearnose skate, see Luer and Gilbert (1985).]

Science Center [NEFSC] trawl surveys, below). It is a Age and growth of clearnose skate have been southern species that is considered rare in the northern estimated from length frequency plots and by counting part of its range (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953a). rings on vertebral centra (Daiber 1960; Fitz and Daiber McEachran (2002) distinguishes clearnose skates 1963). However, vertebrae are difficult to read (Schwartz from other skates in the Gulf of Maine by a combination 1996). In Delaware Bay, Fitz and Daiber (1963) reported of the following characters: snout acute, three rows of newly hatched young to be 15 cm long. They calculated equally-sized thorns on dorsal and lateral surfaces of the that skates approximately 33 cm long were one year old, tail, and the dorsal surface of the disc is marked with a 41 cm long two years old, 49 cm long three years old, and series of dark spots and bars. > 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 LIFE HISTORY 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, The single fertilized egg is encapsulated in an amber 40.0 cm DW at age IV, 42.0 cm DW at age V, and 46.0 to light brown egg case (Figure 2). The egg cases have cm DW at age VI.

been described from Sandy Hook Bay, New York/New -Maximum size and size at maturity varies with Jersey (Breder and Nichols 1937; Breder and Atz 1938), latitude, the largest individuals occur at highest latitudes Delaware Bay (Fitz and Daiber 1963), and the Gulf of (McEachran 2002). The maximum size of clearnose skate, Mexico (Luer and Gilbert 1985). The cases are has been previously listed as 94-95 cm TL (Bigelow and rectangular in shape, with a'relatively short, medially- Schroeder 1953a; Schaefer 1967). Bigelow and Schroeder curved horn at each corner, and range in size from 60-80 (1953a) report that they ordinarily grow to a -length of mm long and 37-51 mm wide (Fitz and Daiber 1963; Luer 76.2 cm TL. Based on the predictive equations from Frisk and Gilbert 1985; McEachran 2002). The horns are et al. (2001) and the Northeast Fisheries Science Center shorter than the remainder of the capsule and the anterior (NEFSC) survey maximum observed length of 78 cm TL, horns are longer than the posterior horns. The egg cases Lm.t is estimated at 61 cm TL and Am,, is estimated at 5-6 are smooth but are marked with fine longitudinal years (Northeast Fisheries Science Center 2000b). -

striations (McEachran 2002). North of Cape Hatteras the There are linear regressions defining male and female egg cases are deposited in the spring and summer; in total length (TL)-weight relationships in North Carolina Delaware Bay, Fitz and Daiber (1963) reported spawning (Schwartz 1996):

to occur only-in the spring. Off the central west coast of log weight males = -4.9320 + 2.8808 log TL; Florida, egg deposition occurs from December through log weight females = -5.7680 + 3.1869 log TL.

mid-May (Luer and Gilbert 1985). Luer and Gilbert Clearnose skate feed on polychaetes, amphipods, (1985), studying clearnose skate from Florida, found that mysid shrimps (e.g. Neomysis americana), the shrimp.

they lay an average of 30 pairs* of eggs in a season, Crangon septemspinosa, mantis shrimps, crabs including ranging from 23-35 pairs/individual. The average interval Cancer, mud, hermit, and spider crabs, Ovalipes between laying of successive pairs of eggs is around 4.5 ocellatus, bivalves (e.g. Ensis directus), squids, and small days, with most of the intervals falling in the range of 2-6 fishes such as soles, weakfish, butterfish, and scup days. (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953b; Fitz and Daiber 1963; Incubation time has been reported as about three Stehmann and McEachran 1978; Schwartz 1996; months for skate eggs in Delaware Bay [Fitz and Daiber Bowman et al. 2000; Figure 3). In North Carolina, fish (1963);. this time period also agrees with Breder and prey included striped anchovy,. croaker, spot, and Nichols (1937)] and 63 days for eggs from a specimen off blackcheek tonguefish (Schwartz 1996).

the Atlantic coast of Florida (Libby arid Gilbert 1960). Sharks, such as the sand tiger (Odontaspis taurus)

Fitz and Daiber (1963) reported that newly hatched regularly prey on the clearnose skate (McEachran 2002),

clearnose skates appeared in Delaware Bay in July, and and one has been found in the stomach of a greater based on newly hatched juveniles collected along the east amberjack (Seriola dumerili) (Rountree 2001). Boring coast, they suggest a northward progresson in hatching snails may prey on the eggs of clearnose skate (Cox and times. In the laboratory, Luer and Gilbert (1985) allowed Koob 1993).

eggs laid by Gulf of Mexico skate to incubate at a

Page 2 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION Cape Hatteras (Figure 7).

The spring and fall 1978-2002 Massachusetts inshore Although clearnose skate occurs along the east coast trawl surveys [see Reid et al. (1999) for details] show a from the Gulf of Maine south, it is rare in the Gulf of few scattered juveniles around Cape Cod, in Maine and off Massachusetts (see NEFSC and Massachusetts Bay, and around Cape Ann (Figure 8).

Massachusetts trawl surveys, below). In the past it has The distributions and abundances of both juvenile been reported from Gloucester, Provincetown, and on and adult clearnose skate in Long Island Sound from Nantucket shoals (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953a). April to November 1984-1994, based on the Connecticut McEachran and Musick (1975) caught none off Fisheries Division bottom trawl surveys, are shown in Massachusetts or in the Gulf of Maine during 1967-1970 Figure 9. The following description of their distributions surveys from Nova Scotia to Cape Hatteras. is taken verbatim from Gottschall et al. (2000).

North of Cape Hatteras, it moves inshore and Cleamose skate is a relatively rare species in the northward along the continental shelf during the spring Sound (only 29 observed), were most often taken during and early summer, and offshore and southward during September and October (Figure 9). They were distributed autumn and early winter when water temperatures cool to primarily on the sand and transitional bottom of the 13-16°C (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953b, McEachran Mattituck Sill and Eastern Basin. Only five clearnose 1973; McEachran and Musick 1975; see also NEFSC skate were observed west of the Sill, four of with were in surveys, below). Bigelow and Schroeder (1953b) reported depths > 18 m on mud bottom (Gottschall et al. 2000).

that it appears inshore between Chesapeake Bay and Occurrence of juveniles in the Hudson-Raritan Delaware Bay in April, occurs off New Jersey and New estuary [based on Hudson-Raritan trawl surveys; see Reid York from late April-May to October-November, and is et al. (1999) for details] appears to have the same found off southern Massachusetts from July until seasonal pattern noted above; i.e., generally there are September. Schaefer (1967) collected cleamose skate in fewer in the estuary during the cooler months. Only one the surf zone of Long Island from May to November juvenile was found in the estuary during the winter while Gottschall et al. (2000), based on surveys from (Figure 10). In spring small numbers were scattered 1984-1994 (see below), found them in Long Island Sound throughout the estuary. The largest numbers were mostly in September and October. Jivoff and Able (2001) captured in the summer, particularly in or near the two found it in the deep channels of Little Egg Harbor in New channels and south of Coney Island. In the fall, small Jersey in April and May. Fitz and Daiber (1963) found numbers of juveniles were again found throughout the that it appeared in Delaware Bay during April-November. Hudson-Raritan estuary (Figure 10).

Clearnose skate has been found in Chesapeake Bay from The 1966-1999 Delaware Bay trawl surveys (adults April to December (Massman 1962; Geer 2002, see also and juveniles combined; Figure 11) also confirm the Figure 12) and in Chinocoteague, Virginia, and seasonal trends noted previously for clearnose skate. The Sinepuxent Bays, Maryland from May to November greatest abundances occurred in the summer and fall, and (Schwartz 1961). In Georgia estuaries, Dahlberg and they were almost completely absent in the winter. In the Odum (1970) reported that it was a year-round resident. 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 JUVENILES Bay and particularly near Cape Henlopen. In the fall, the greatest numbers were caught in the center of lower NEFSC bottom trawl surveys [see Reid et al. (1999) Delaware Bay, at the mouth and near Cape Henlopen for details] captured juvenile (< 60 cm TL) clearnose (Figure 11).

skate year-round and show some of the seasonal The 1988-1999 Virginia Institute of Marine Science onshore/offshore movements mentioned above. (Note that (VIMS) trawl surveys of Chesapeake Bay show that most winter and summer distributions are presented as juvenile and adult clearnose skate appear in catches presence/absence data, precluding a discussion of between April and December with peak catch per unit abundances.) In winter, the densest concentrations of effort between May and August (Figure 12; Geer [2002]).

juveniles occurred on the Continental Shelf from the They were most abundant near the Bay mouth during Delmarva Peninsula to Cape Hatteras out to the 200 m spring and summer, but appeared throughout the Bay depth contour. Scattered individuals were also found near during all four seasons, and rarely appeared in the the Hudson Canyon (Figure 4). In spring they were tributaries (Figure 13; Geer [2002]). A few were caught concentrated inshore from the Delmarva Peninsula to by seine in the 1990s along the seaside of the Eastern south of Cape Hatteras, with scattered numbers farther Shore of Virginia (Geer 2002).

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

Page 3 ADULTS and spring. The spring and fall 1963-2002 NEFSC trawl surveys from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras (see NEFSC bottom trawl surveys captured adult below) indicated that both juveniles and adults were clearnose skate (> 61 cm TL) during all seasons, and found over a depth range during spring of between 1-300 again showed some of the seasonal onshore/offshore m, and during the fall between about 1-80 m for the movements mentioned above. (Again, winter and summer juveniles or 1-50 m for the adults. Most, however, were distributions are presented as presence/absence data, found at shallow depths of around 1-30 m during both precluding a discussion of abundances.) In Winter, adults seasons (Figures 19 and 23). The 1992-1997 Hudson-were concentrated offshore on the Continental Shelf out Raritan estuary trawl surveys (see below) showed that to the 200 m depth contour from the near the Hudson most juveniles were found at around 5-7 m (Figure 20);

Canyon to Cape Hatteras, with the heaviest most adults were captured at 5-8 m (Figure 24). The concentrations from Delaware Bay to the Cape (Figure 1966-1999 Delaware Bay trawl surveys (see below; 14). In spring small numbers were concentrated inshore Figure 21) showed that both juveniles and adults were and out to the 200 m contour from Delaware to south of found over a range of approximately 5-24 m. The 1988-Cape Hatteras (Figure 15). In summer small 1999 VIMS Chesapeake Bay trawl surveys caught both concentrations were found mostly inshore from Cape juveniles and adults over a depth range of 1-33 m, with May to Cape Hatteras (Figure 16). Small numbers of most between about 7-15 m (see below, Figure 22).

adult clearnose skate were concentrated inshore from Clearnose skate occurs over a temperature range of Long Island to Cape Hatteras in the fall (Figure 17).

9-30°C, but is most abundant between 9-20'C in the Only one adult was caught during the fall northern part of its range (McEachran and Musick 1975)

Massachusetts inshore trawl surveys (not shown).

and 19-30'C in North Carolina (Schwartz 1996). Fitz and The distribution and abundance of both adults and Daiber (1963) found that it appeared in Delaware Bay at juveniles in Long Island Sound were discussed previously temperatures above 9°C (about April-November); the (Figure 9; Gottschall et al. [2000]).

Delaware Bay trawl surveys (see below) show that this is As with the juveniles, adult clearnose skate in the generally true. The VIMS trawl surveys caught them in Hudson-Raritan estuary were most abundant during the Chesapeake Bay at temperatures between 8-24°C (see summer months, particularly near the channels (Figure below). It has been captured between 5-26°C in the 18).

Chesapeake Bight and 9-27°C south of Cape Hatteras The seasonal distribution and abundance of both (McEachran and Musick 1975). As state previously, north adults and juveniles in Delaware and Chesapeake Bays of Cape Hatteras, it moves inshore and northward along were discussed previously (Figures 11, 12 and 13).

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 HABITAT CHARACTERISTICS (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953b, Schwartz 1961; Massman 1962; Fitz and Daiber 1963; Schaefer 1967; McEachran Information on the habitat requirements and 1973; McEachran and Musick 1975). The spring and fall preferences of clearnose skate (based on both the 1963-2002 NEFSC trawl surveys from the Gulf of Maine pertinent literature and the most recent NEFSC and state to Cape Hatteras (see below and Figure 19) collected surveys) are presented here and summarized in Tables I juvenile little skate over a temperatures range of 4-27°C, and 2.

with most fish found at cooler temperatures in the spring The clearnose skate is found on soft bottoms along (around 7-16°C), as opposed to the fall (around 18-the continental shelf, but also occurs on rocky or gravelly 22 °C). Adults were found over a temperature range of 4-bottoms (Bullis'and Thompson 1965; Struhsaker 1969). It 25°C, and like the juveniles, most fish were found at has been captured from shore in the northern part of its cooler temperatures in the spring than in the fall (Figure range to 329 m (McEachran and Musick 1975). Bigelow 23). The 1992-1997 Hudson-Raritan estuary trawl and Schroeder (1953b) stated it was abundant from the surveys (see below) showed that the juveniles were found sublittoral zone to around 55 m. Edwards et al. (1962) between 13-24°C (Figure 20) and adults between 9-24°C captured it at 280 m and 329 m off of Cape May, New (Figure 24). Breder (1924) had reported that clearnose Jersey in the winter. Schwartz (1996), in 1993-1994, skate was not found in Sandy Hook Bay below a captured it at depths of 20 m off Shackleford Banks, temperature of 14.4°C. The 1966-1999 Delaware Bay North Carolina. However, overall it is most abundant at trawl surveys (see below; Figure 21) showed that both depths < 111 m (McEachran and Musick 1975). juveniles and adults were found over a range of McEachran and Musick (1975) report that during surveys approximately 6-27 C.

of the Chesapeake Bight, cleamose skate was more Fitz and Daiber (1963) reported clearnose skate in abundant in shallow water during spring and summer than areas of Delaware Bay where the salinity was as low as during autumn and winter and was more abundant in the 20 ppt, the Delaware Bay trawl surveys found a few of Bight during the summer and autumn than in the winter them at even lower salinities (see below). In Chesapeake

Page 4 Bay, Geer (2002) reported that most cleamose skate were dissolved oxygen levels of between 8-10 ppm with caught during the VIMS trawl surveys at salinities > 22 around 50% at 8 ppm. In summer, clearnose skate were ppt (see below). Schwartz (1996) captured them off found over a temperature range of between 17-24°C, with Shackleford Banks, North Carolina at salinities of 32-34 most between 20-22°C. Their depth range was between 4 ppt.. The spring and fall 1963-2002 NEFSC trawl surveys m to about 26 m, with most found between 5-8 m. Their from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras (see below and salinities ranged between 23-31 ppt. They were found Figures 19 and 23) collected juveniles and adults between over a range of dissolved oxygen levels of between 3-9 salinities of about 26-36 ppt,, with most found between ppm with most between 6-7 ppm. In the fall, their 32-35 ppt in the spring and 31-32 ppt in the fall. 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 EGGS between 20-31 ppt, with a peak at 21 ppt. They were found over a range of dissolved oxygen levels of between As noted previously, in the laboratory, Luer and 5-8 ppm with most between 7-8 ppm.

Gilbert (1985) allowed eggs laid by Gulf of Mexico skate The seasonal distributions of both juveniles and to incubate at a constant temperature of 20-22°C and adults in Delaware Bay relative to bottom water photoperiod of 12 hours1.388889e-4 days 0.00333 hours 1.984127e-5 weeks 4.566e-6 months light/12 hours dark. Eggs laid temperature, depth, salinity, and dissolved oxygen based initially in the season hatched in about 88-94 days, while on 1966-1999 Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife those laid late in the season required about 77-80 days. bottom trawl surveys are shown in Figure 21. Very few The incubation periods showed a gradual decrease in were ,found in winter; their temperature range was duration from 91-77 days, correlating directly with the between 7-8°C, and they were found at depths of 8 m, 13 order of egg pair deposition. The mean incubation period m, and especially 18 m. They were found at salinities of obtained at constant temperature and photoperiod was 24 ppt, 28-29 ppt,. and at 34 ppt. They were found over a 82.2+/-3.6 days. 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 JUVENILES 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.

The spring and fall distributions ofjuvenile cleamose Their salinities ranged between 17-33 ppt, with peaks at skate relative to bottom water temperature, depth, and 26-27 ppt and 30 ppt. They were found over a range of salinity based on 1963-2002 NEFSC bottom trawl dissolved oxygen levels' of between 6-15 ppm, most were surveys from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras are found between 8-10 ppm. In summer, clearnose skate shown in Figure 19. In spring, they were found, in waters were found over a higher temperatures range of between between 4-21 'C, the majority were spread between about 14-27°C. They generally occurred or were caught with 7-16'C. Their depth range during that season was increasing frequency from 16'C to about 22-23 °C..They between about 1-300 m, with most between 1-30 m. Their had a roughly bimodal depth distribution of salinity range extended from 26-36 ppt, with the majority approximately 5-23 m, the peaks were at about 7-8 m and found between 32-35 ppt. During the fall, juvenile 13-14 m. Their salinities ranged between about 19-32 ppt, cleamose skate were found over a temperature range of with a few at 12-13 ppt, and a peak at 30 ppt. They were about 7-27°C, with most spread between about 18-22°C found over a range of dissolved oxygen levels of between and with peaks at 20-21 'C. They were found over a depth 5-10 ppm; the majority were between 6-7 ppm. During range of about 1-80 m, with around 60% found between fall they were found between 8-24°C, with most found 11-20 m. They were found in salinities of between 27-36 between about 16-21 'C. Their depth range during that ppt, with the majority found at 31-32 ppt. .season was between 6-21 m with a few at 24 m, most Too few juveniles were found in the spring and fall were found between about 8-14 m. There was a peak Massachusetts inshore trawl surveys to plot their (about 20%) at 8 m. Their salinities were spread between distributions relative to habitat parameters. approximately 15-32 ppt, with the majority between 28-The seasonal distributions of juveniles in the 30 ppt. They were found over a range of dissolved Hudson-Raritan estuary relative to bottom water oxygen levels of between 6-11 ppm, with the majority at temperature, depth, salinity, and dissolved oxygen 'based 6-8 ppm.

on 1992-1997 Hudson-Raritan trawl surveys are shown in The hydrographic preferences of both juvenile and Figure 20. The surveys show that during the spring adult clearnose skate in Chesapeake Bay from the 1988-juveniles were found mostly between 13-180C, with the 1999 VIMS trawl surveys are shown in Figure 22 (all majority at 16'C. Their depth range during that season years and months combined). Geer (2002) suggests that was between 5 mito around 14'm, with most found at 5-7 since they are present in the Bay for all but the coldest

m. Their salinities ranged between 22-30 ppt, with peaks months, there appears to be little relationship with catch at 25 ppt and 27 ppt. They were found over a range of 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 STATUS OF THE STOCKS the catch at > 22 ppt. Their depth range was from 1-33 m, with most between about 7-15 m. The following section is based on Northeast Fisheries Science Center (2000a, b).

The principal commercial fishing method used to ADULTS catch all seven species of skates [clearnose, little (Leucoraja erinacea), barmdoor (Dipturus laevis), winter The spring and fall distributions of adult cleamose (Leucoraja ocellata), thorny, (Raja eglanteria), rosette skate relative to bottom water temperature, depth, and (Leucorajagarmani), smooth (Malacorajasenta)] is otter salinity based on -1963-2002 NEFSC bottom trawl trawling. Skates are frequently taken as bycatch during surveys from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras are groundfish trawling and scallop dredge operations and shown in Figure 23. In spring, they were found at discarded recreational and foreign landings are currently temperatures between 4-22°C, with most spread between insignificant, at < 1% of the total fishery landings.

about 6-15'C. During that period they were found at a Skates have been reported in New England fishery depth range of about 1-300 m, with the majority at 11-30 landings since the late 1800s. However, commercial

m. They were found over a salinity range of between 26- fishery landings, primarily from off Rhode Island, never 36 ppt, with the majority between 32-35 ppt. During the exceeded several hundred metric tons until the advent of fall, they were distributed over a temperature range of 10- distant-water fleets during the 1960s. Landings are not 25°C, with most found between 18-22°C. They were reported by species, with over 99% of the landings found over a depth range of 1-50 m with approximately reported as "unclassified skates." Skate landings reached 60% between 11-20 m..Their salinity range during that 9,500 mt in 1969, but declined quickly during the 1970s, season was between 27-35 ppt, with the majority at 3 1-32 falling to 800 mt in 1981 (Figure 25). Landings have ppt. since increased substantially, partially in response to The seasonal distributions of adults in the Hudson- increased demand for lobster bait, and more significantly, Raritan estuary relative to bottom water temperature, to the increased export market for skate wings. Wings are depth, salinity, and dissolved oxygen are shown in Figure taken from winter and thorny skates, the two species

24. During the spring adults were found over a currently used for human consumption. Bait landings are temperature range of about 9-21 'C, with most between presumed to be primarily from little skate, based on areas 15-17'C and about 45% at 16'C. Their depth range fished and known species distribution patterns. Landings during that season was between 5-16 m, with most found for all skates increased to 12,900 mt in 1993 and then between 5-8 m. Their salinities during that period ranged declined somewhat to 7,200 mt in 1995. Landings have between 23-30 ppt, with peaks at 25 and 27 ppt. They increased again since 1995, and the 1998 reported were found over a range of dissolved oxygen levels of commercial landings of 17,000 mt were the highest on between 6-11 ppm, with the majority between 7-9 ppm. record (Figure 25). In terms of total recreational landings In summer, adult clearnose skate were found over a for clearnose skate, they varied between 2000 and temperature range of between 17-24°C, with a peak at 145,000 fish, equivalent to 2 to 232 mt, during 1981-22°C. Their depth range was between 4 m to about 26 m, 1998.

with most found between 5-8 m. Their salinities during The biomass for the seven skate species is at a that period. ranged between 23-31 ppt, with peaks at 27 medium level of abundance. For the aggregate complex, and 29 ppt. They were found over a range of dissolved the NEFSC spring survey index of biomass was relatively oxygen levels of between 3-10 ppm, with the majority constant from 1968-1980, then increased significantly to between 6-7 ppm. In the fall, their temperature peak levels in the mid- to late 1980s. The index of skate distribution was between about 12-18'C (a few were at complex biomass then declined steadily until 1994, but 9°C), with most at 16-17'C. They were found between 4 has recently increased again. The large increase in skate m to about 17 m deep, with most between 5-8 m. Their biomass in the mid- to late 1980s was dominated by little salinities during that period ranged between 20-32 ppt, and winter skate. The abundance of clearnose skate has with most between 26-30 ppt. They were found over a been increasing since the mid-1980s (Figure 25),

range of dissolved oxygen levels of between 5-10 ppm, although the recent increase in aggregate skate biomass with the majority between 6-8 ppm. has been due to an increase in all the small sized skates (<

The seasonal distributions of both juveniles and 100 cm max. length: clearnose, little, rosette, and adults in Delaware Bay relative to bottom water smooth), primarily little skate. Cleamose skate is not temperature, depth, salinity, and dissolved oxygen based considered to be overfished (Northeast Fisheries Science on Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife bottom trawl Center 2000a, b).

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).

Page 6 RESEARCH NEEDS and two species of squid. NOAA Tech. Mem. NMFS-NE-155. 138 p.

Imprecise reporting of fishery statistics where several Breder, C.M. 1924. Nineteen twenty-three fish notes from skate species are lumped together under one category .Sandy Hook Bay. Copeia 127: 27-32.

(e.g., "unclassified skates" or "skates spp.") can fmask Breder, C.M. and J.W. Atz. 1938. Further notes on the basic changes in community structure and profound eggs of Raja eglanteriaBosc. Copeia 1938: 145-146.

reduction in populations of larger, slower growing species Breder, C.M. and J.T. Nichols. 1937. The eggs of Raja (Dulvy et al. 2000; Musick et al. 2000). Thus, it is eglanteria Bosc, with a key to the shells of the New important to have fishery-independent data on skates York species. Copeia 1937: 181-184.

where the individual species are reported. Bullis, H.R., Jr. and J.R. Thompson. 1965. Collections by Northeast Fisheries Science Center (2000b) also the exploratory fishing vessels Oregon, Silver Bay, suggests the following research needs: Combat, and Pelican made during 1956-1960 in the

" More life history studies (including age, growth, southwestern North Atlantic.-U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv.

maturity, and fecundity studies) are necessary. Spec. Sci. Rep. Fish. 510. 130 p.

" Studies of stock structure are needed to identify unit Cox, D.L. and T.J. Koob. 1993. Predation on stocks. elasmobranch eggs. Environ. Biol. Fish. 38: 117-125.

Explore possible stock-recruit relationships by Dahlberg, M.D. and E.P. Odum. 1970. Annual cycles of examination of NEFSC survey data. species occurrence, abundance, and diversity in

Investigate trophic interactions between skate species Georgia estuarine fish populations. Am. Midland in the complex, and between skates and other Naturalist 83: 382-392.

groundfish. Daiber, F.C. 1960. A technique for age determination in

Investigate the influence of annual changes in water the skate Raja eglanteria.Copeia 1960: 258-260.

temperature or other environmental factors on shifts Dulvy, N.K., J.D. Metcalfe, J. Glanville, M.G. Pawson, in the range and distribution of the species in the and J.D. Reynolds. 2000. Fishery stability, local skate complex, and establish the bathymetric extinctions, and shifts in community structure in distribution of the species in the complex in the skates. Conserv. Biol. 14: 283-293.

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

Investigate historical NEFSC survey data from the Winter water temperatures and an annotated list of R/V Albatross III during 1948-1962 when they fishes - Nantucket Shoals to Cape Hatteras. Albatross become available, as they may provide valuable III Cruise no. 126. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. Spec. Sci.

historical context for long-term trends in skate Rep. Fish. 397. 31 p.

biomass. 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 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Bay. Bull. Bingham Oceanogr. Collect., Yale Univ.

18 (3): 69-97.

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

The authors thank Barry Shafer, John McCarthy, Estimation and analysis of biological parameters in Tom Finneran, Annette Kalbach, and Meredith Lock for elasmobranch fishes: a comparative life history study.

producing the maps and graphics. Thanks also to Claire Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 58: 969-981.

Steimle and Judy. Berrien for literature reviews and interlibrary loans. Frank Almeida and Kathy Sosebee of Geer, P.J.. 2002. Summary of essential fish habitat the NEFSC Woods Hole provided much needed description and identification for Federally managed information, input, and reviews. 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.

REFERENCES CITED The distribution and size composition of finfish, American lobster, and long-finned squid in Long Bigelow, H.B. and W.C. Schroeder. 1953a. Fishes of the Island Sound based on the Connecticut Fisheries Gulf of Maine. U.S. Fish Wild]. Serv., Fish. Bull. 53.

Division Bottom Trawl Survey, 1984-1994. NOAA 577 p.

Bigelow, H.B. and W.C. Schroeder. 1953b. Fishes of the Tech. Rep. NMFS 148. 195 p.

Jivoff, P. and K. Able. 2001. Characterization of the fish western North Atlantic. Part 2. Sawfishes, guitarfishes, skates, and rays [and] chimaeroids. Mem. and selected decapods in Little Egg Harbor. J. Coast.

Res. 32: 178-196.

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

Bowman, R.E., C.E. Stillwell, W.L. Michaels, and M.D. Libby, E.L. and P.W. Gilbert. 1960. Reproduction in the

. Grosslein. 2000. Food of northwest Atlantic fishes cleamosed skate, Raja eglanteria. Anat. Rec. 138:

365.

Page 7 Luer, C.A. 1999 Dec. 3. The skate. Mote Marine Stehmann, M. and J.D. McEachran. 1978. Rajidae. In Laboratory. <http://www.mote.org/SKATE.phtml>. FAO species identifcation sheets for fishery purposes.

Accessed 2001 Feb. 15. Western Central Atlantic (Fishing Area 31). W.

Luer, C.A. and P.W. Gilbert. 1985. Mating behavior, egg Fischer ed. FAO, Rome.

deposition, incubation period, and hatching in the Struhsaker, P. 1969. Demersal fish resources:

clearnose skate, Raja eglanteria.Environ. Biol. Fish. Composition, distribution, and commercial potential 13: 161-171. of the Continental Shelf stocks off Southeastern Massmann, W.H. 1962. Water temperatures, salinities, United States. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. Fish. Ind. Res. 4:

and fishes collected during trawl surveys of 261-300.

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. 3 rd 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.

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 Occurs over a Found on soft Sharks, such as the Polychaetes, shore in the temperature range of 9- bottoms along the sand tiger amphipods, mysid northern part of its 30'C, but is most continental shelf, (Odontaspis shrimps (e.g.

range to 329 m. abundant between 9- but also occurs on taurus). One found N/eomysis Most abundant at 20'C in northern part rocky or gravelly in the stomach of a americana), the depths < Ill m. of range and 19-30'C bottoms. greater amberjack shrimp Crangon Captured at 280 m in North Carolina. (Seriola dumerili). Yeptemspinosa, and 329 m off of Appeared in Delaware In Long Island Boring snails may crabs including Cape May, New Bay at temperatures Sound during 1984- prey on the eggs. Cancer, mud, Jersey in the winter. above 9VC (about 1994, they were hermit, and spider In the Chesapeake April-November). Has distributed crabs, Ovalipes Bight, it was more been captured between primarily on the ocellatus, bivalves abundant in shallow 5-26°C in the sand and (e.g. Ensis water during spring Chesapeake Bight and transitional bottom directus), squids, and summer than 9-27°C south of Cape of the Mattituck Sill and small fishes during autumn and Hatteras. North of Cape and Eastern Basin. such as soles, winter and was Hatteras, it moves Only five skate weakfish, more abundant in inshore and northward observed west of butterfish, and scup.

the Bight during along the continental the Sill, four of with In North Carolina, summer and autumn shelf during spring and were in depths > 18 fish prey included than in winter and early summer, and m on mud bottom. striped anchovy, spring. Captured at offshore and southward Reported in areas of croaker, spot, depths of 20 m off during autumn and Delaware Bay blackcheek Shackleford Banks, early winter when where the salinity tonguefish.

North Carolina in water temperatures was as low as 20 1993-1994. cool to 13-16'C. ppt, the Delaware Bay trawl surveys In the lab, eggs from found a few of them Gulf of Mexico skate at even lower hatched after a mean salinities (see time of 82.2+/-3.6 days below). Captured when incubated at a off Shackleford constant temperature of Banks, North 20-22°C and Carolina at photoperiod of 12 salinities of 32-34 hours light/I 2 hours2.314815e-5 days 5.555556e-4 hours 3.306878e-6 weeks 7.61e-7 months ppt.

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.

'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 1963-2002 NEFSC Spring: range of about 1-300 Spring: range of 4-21 'C, Spring: range of 26-36 ppt, Juveniles trawl surveys from m, most between 1-30 m. majority spread between about majority between 32-35 ppt.

Gulf of Maine to Fall: range of about 1-80 m, 7-16'C. Fall: range of 27-36 ppt, Cape Hatteras. around 60% found between Fall: range of about 7-27°C, majority at 31-32 ppt.

11-20 m. most spread between about 18-22°C. peaks at 20-21 'C.

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 Range from 1-33 m, most Catches common between 8- > 85% of the catch at > 22 ppt.

Institute of Marine between about 7-15 m. 24'C.

Science (VIMS) trawl surveys of Chesapeake Bay (juveniles and adults combined).

Page 10 Table 2. cont'd.

Life StageI Survey Depth I Temperature Salinity/DO 1963-2002 NEFSC Spring: range of about 1-300 Spring: range of 4-22°C, most Spring: range of 26-36 ppt, Adults trawl surveys from m, majority at 11-30 m.. spread between about 6-15'C. majority between 32-35 ppt.

Gulf of Maine to Fall: range of about 1-50 m, Fall: range of 10-25°C, most Fall: range between 27-35 ppt, Cape Hatteras. with approximately 60% between 18-22°C. majority at 31-32 ppt.

between 11-20 m.

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. See juveniles.

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

1988-1999 Virginia See juveniles. See juveniles. See juveniles.

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

Page 11

- X "z AW:

(," ,,.,:7:

Figure 1. The clearnose skate, Raja eglanteriaBosc 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 Amphipoda 6.5%

Decapoda 51.9 %

p " Crustacea 9.1%

Mollusca 7.8 %

Other prey phyla 5.2 %

Polychaeta 3.9' Fish 15.6%

1973-1980 n = 38 Decapoda 47.2 %

Crustacea 4.9%

Polychaeta 4. 1%

Crustacea shrimp 4.9%

Other prey phyla 1.6 % 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

~ ~Min Max 1i

. "0=

A~Ma = I~

x=O 1984 -94 J ) ').< 3 cZ2' " ? 3' + 3 33I

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

~ 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' 740 05" 74' 00' 73.'55 CLEARNOSE SKATE--Juveniles (<= 60 cm) --:ýHudson River Winter (92 - 97)

Hudson/Raritan Trawl Survey /.

/ " New York Fish Caught/station (excluding 0 catch): 0**40 35

'I Mean: 1 Min: 1 Max: 1

,/

Length (cm): Min: 48 Max: 48 Staten i-'i e- ,J

/]*/

Island

S N

I-7/

40 30

" Niumber/Tow 10 1-2 10,

, 3-5 -

New Jersey

6-10 40°25

>10 740 15 730 55" 74' 10' 74' 055, 74*00QQ CLEARNOSE SKATE--Juveniles (<= 60 cm) -i.Hudson River Spring (92 - 97)

Hudson/Raritan Trawl Survey

/ \New York Fish Caught/station (excluding 0 catch): =;.............

4 0°3 4.Q 35 Mean: 1 Min: 1 Max: 3 Length (cm): Min: 43 Max: 60 '-

.¢ Staten Island I, .../f:!

N 77

.7-' 40" 30' Number/Tow

.2 1-2 X",-

3-5 New Jersey . ", 6-10 --1400 25

, 'K,'

-' ~-~

. . >10 . -

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) S Hudson River Summer (92 - 96)

Hudson/Raritan Trawl Survey New York ,'

Fish Caught/station (excluding 0 catch): 40 35 Mean:2 Min: 1 Max: 11 Length (cm): Min: 43 Max: 60 / .

0 .. -1 . 30 V

Staten //

Island ,V ,\/

'ft I',

Vn 7"

Number/Tow

?'

1-2 io;

3-5 New Jersey

6-10 -140* 25 '

>10 740 05 730 55" 74° 15 74" 10 *74'00Q

\ --- Hudson River CLEARNOSE SKATE--Juveniles (<=60 cm)

Fall (92 - 96)

Hudson/Raritan Trawl Survey >. New York -

Fish Caught/station (excluding 0 catch): / - ...

.N , . 4Q . 0 35 Mean: 2 Min: 1 Max: 5

/

Length (cm): Min: 43 Max: 60 'I-

/

Staten Island

- 40° 30" 7r') L,:. \Numb*Ier/Tow '

- As Th~ (" Ot 1-2 NI 0 3-5

..... C. '

New Jersey 6-10 400 25'

. *! 0

-v..

i,

, 'a" >10

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

+ 2S. .... ' < . * . *. . . . .*

Figure 10. cont'd.

Page 23 750 30 ' 750 20 ' 750 10 ' 750 00 " 74° 50 '

CLEARNOSE SKATE .390 30 All Size Classes Combined Winter (1966 - 1999)

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

-390 20 NJ 0%

~'

0.00 K_

0% ;390 10

~

0.00 0%

/

0.05 0.00 0%

"\\ \ \ 5%

5 \

\. / y 39000 0.00 0.00

) 0% 0.00 -i-0% 0.00 00/0 mcape 0%/

0.71 0.00 0.00 00/ # Times 1 A0/^

,J \ U1/o,10 Station Sampled DE 1-5 0.10 10-22 3850" 10%

° 31-40 o 41-50 Data Source: CaAuinpe/

h k VAirl~ilin Henlopený,

Delaware Division of Fis 9 51-61 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 " 75020 ' 750 10 ' 750 00" 740 50' CLEARNOSE SKATE 139 30' All Size Classes Combined Spring (1966 - 1999)

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

-1390 20 NJ r5) 0.07 0

2% 390 10' 1.51 0

34% // r~

2.19 0.00 /

/

0 38% 0%

00' 3.38 1.30 0.00 4 "o/4 30% 1.47 0%

6 32%

2.72 2.38 0.00 0Olo # Times 53% 51% Station Sampled DE 3.36 1-5 10-22 -138 50 2i%

31 -40 Data Source: Cape / o 41 -50 Delaware Division of Fish &Wildilfe Henlopen'

51 -61 Figure 1I. cont'd.

Page 25 750 30 ' 750 20 " 750 10 ' 750 00 ' 742 50 '

CLEARNOSE SKATE All Size Classes Combined 390 30" Summer (1966 - 1999)

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

(

~~> zX~-.~

390 20

,- r NJ 0.63 18% S 39° 10" 1.g2 33%

/ ,

4.46 2.67 0

58% 33%

ý~390 00 4,J7 7.57 11.00 S61%/ f-- cape ~

80% 14.46 100%

0 73%

13611 9.67 2.34 100% #Times

\ 53% 83% Station Sampled DE 20.32 1-5

~~850~

10-22 82%

31 -40 o 41-50 Data Source: Cape Delaware Division of Fish &Wildilfe Henlopen!

51-61 Figure II. cont'd.

Page 26 750 30 ' 750 20 " 750 10 ' 750 00 ' 740 50 CLEARNOSE SKATE ý390 30' All Size Classes Combined Fall (1966 - 1999)

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

(

390 20

ý21 NJ /

1 (K

0.76 0

31%0/

390 10 1.70 0

37%

2.Z74 2.67 I-.

\ 53% 67%

00' 1.79 10.00

,~~1 56%/

7.49 59%

0 1.97 0

80%

37%

.4 .03 4.49 26.67 0 # Times 57% 63% 100%0 Station Sampled 1-5 LJr 13.94 10-22 i38050

,- - ,780/o (N

31-40 Cape /

~1 \ o 41 -50 Data Source:

Delaware Division of Fish &Wildilfe Henlopeni e 51-61

-1.Ir. 111'.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:

11l-25

-7 a

@i4 26-50 4 Winter *>50 WintH Spring

. ..-. N. .........

. r r..... r.

-s i-, N '~'~W ~

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' 74' 5" 74 00' 730 55" CLEARNOSE SKATE--Adults (>= 61 cm) \\ --*Hudson River /

Spring (92 - 97)

Hudson/Raritan Trawl Survey S\ "New York p 400 35 Fish Caught/station (excluding 0 catch):

Mean: 2 Min: 1 Max: 11

,n(. ... / - 4 Length (cm): Min: 61 Max: 75 Staten Staten W,)

Island

.1 J .. /

,'4' 4030 Number/Tow

-'W/

1-2

.4

.-¢. -0

.4 V

3-5 New Jersey

6-10 40025"

>10 74' 15 740 10' 74' 05" 740' 0 730 55

..- 1...

4........

CLEARNOSE SKATE--Adults (>= 61 cm) 4-Hudson River Summer (92 - 96) / ' ,

Hudson/Raritan Trawl Survey vy ork 4 Fish Caught/station (excluding 0 catch): / ae

--40° 35 Mean: 3 Min: 1 Max: 21

, 0 Length (cm): Min: 61 Max: 79 S.. * .1- ~-'1

,-4 O,

S-..-,

0*

4.-

Staten .1 ,/),

9 Island 0 0

/1 J40° 30" 0*

-I .

Number/Tow

.)

--'2:.

1-2

(

3-5 1 New Jersey ----- -----

- 6-10 i40* 25" J * ..

>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 74015' 74 10'" 74'05 " . 74, 00 73°'55 "

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

CLEARNOSE SKATE--Adults (>= 61 cm) \ --. Hudson River Fall (92- 96)

- Hudson/Raritan Trawl Survey New York -

- 40 35 Fish Caught/station (excluding 0 catch):

Mean: 2 Min: 1 Max: 5 Length (cm): Min: 61 Max: 75 Staten -. ,7/

Island 2

-i40" 30' Number/Tow

'01-2

" 3-5 New Jersey

-) ----- 6-10 .400 25

-10 Figure 18. cont'd.

Page 35 Cleamose Skate NEFSC Bottom Trawl Survey Spring/Juveniles 25 E]Trawls N=10537 20 MOccurrence N=376 0)15 0 Catch N=1 850 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)

[I Trawls N=12193 40

Occurrence N=417 30 E0Catch N=1 936 a_10t 0 , *, 51

1,*, R-, n.- R. ,L 171- 0o 0 o

- C c ccC C 0 0 0 0 Bottom Depth (m)

[I Trawls N=1959 40 -

Occurrence N=80 30 a) 0 Catch N=184 2 20-a) a- 10 0

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- [I Trawls N=11844 15 0 Occurrence N=696 a) oi Catch N=1 821 DLLUhh~

2 10 iD a) 5 I

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Bottom Temperature (°C)

Ol Trawls N=13543 80 0 Occurrence N=779 600 0 Catch N=1974 2 40 n 20 0 h i- "L 3 ,EL- rL- iI I iI I n

iI I EII rI I i* IU n

iI I iM i oD a a a a a a a 0 0 a a 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 C'N c?) 1?U~C r 0? 0 CN'J t CIO ý2 0 0 0 0 0 CýJ C?) i I? LAO 0M c' (N C> CD)0 Bottom Depth (in) 0 Trawls N=1956 50 40 M Occurrence N=158 30 [3 Catch N=334 C-)

a) 20 10 0

27 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 Salinity (PPT)

Figure 19. cont'd.

Page 37 Spring 30 20 El Trawls N=330 C:

A Occurrence N=22 (D

a- uiCatch N=28 10 0

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Depth (m) 50 40 El Trawls N=326 a) 30

Occurrence N=22 a-_ 20 11 Catch N=28 10 -i 0

0 2 4 11 ýý 6

B1ý1 8 10 12 lint 14 16 I][4.18 20 22 24 26 28 Temperature (0C) 30 20 El Trawls N=326 Q)

Occurrence N=22 1 12 Catch N=28 i i1F a) a- 10 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .,,

[In "

11

, ,n ,,,

fl

[1 u n ,,, ,,.,/- ./- ., - .- .,- ...- . - ,.

Ilh 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 Salinity (PPT) 60

.50 El Trawls N=177 40 R

Occurrence N=9 a) 12) 30

[*Catch N=13 20 10 A

0 1 2 3 4 5 1_1 6

VI7 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 30 II Trawls N=356 20

0)

Occurrence N=97 0

0) EDCatch N=222 0~ 10

.-In. An 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Depth (m) 40 -

30- [2 Trawls N=352 (D

Occurrence N=95 o 20-12Catch N=215 1 Ii~

10 0

A I[

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Temperature (°C) 30-El Trawls N=347 C 20

0) SOccurrence N=94 C.,

0) El Catch N=214 0~ 10 0

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 Salinity (PPT) 40 30

Trawls N=215

Occurrence N=60

. 20 El Catch N=113 10 10 - 1 !

0-0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

. DO (PPM)

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 EDTrawls 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 90-80 70 60 0 Trawls N=1 66 t!

50 0 Occurrence N=4 Q) 40 0 Catch N=12 30 20 10 0

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Depth (m) 90 80-70 C 60

Trawls N=1 66 50

Occurrence N=4 C.) 40 30 11 Catch N=12 20 10 0 T 14 18T20 2 4 26 2 0 2 4 .6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Temperature (0C) 30 20 1] Trawls N=1 57 C

a, C.)

Occurrence N=4 U)

Catch N=12 0~

10 0

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 Salinity (PPT) 100 90-80 70- El Trawls N=125 E

60 50- 0 Occurrence N=3 0..

40 El Catch N=1 1

ý11-30 20-10-0 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 20

Trawls N=378 (D

U Occurrence N=105 CL

[] Catch N=588 10 ji 0

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Depth (m) 20 El Trawls N=373 c

10 0 Occurrence N=105 a_)

(D El Catch N=585 0-0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Temperature (0C) 20 -

] Trawls N=374 C

a)_ 10 - o Occurrence N=105 li Catch N=585 0

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 Salinity (PPT) 40 -1 30

iTrawls N=312 a)

C-) 20-

Occurrence N=95 IL ]I Catch N=514 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 -

Li Trawls N=512 a) 10 -

Occurrence N=242 a) El Catch N=2759 a-0-

0 2 4 6 11 8

I]i&i~i 10 12 I

14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Depth (m) 30-20 Li Trawls N=509 U) mOccurrence N=242 3.)

EDCatch N=2759 10

---T-*--

T -- I-I F- --7 T-- - - -,---I-- -- ,-

I J *I' T ' ' " T T , 1 -]IL E -

0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Temperature (0C) 30 20 Li Trawls N=498 iE (D)

C_

Occurrence N=232

i Catch N=2695 10 0

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 Salinity (PPT) 60 50 40 STrawls N=415 a- 30 m Occurrence N=173 ElCatch N=1505 20 10 0 - _ , .- - 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 20 1]Trawls N=422 C) 0 i Occurrence N=185 n~ ED Catch N=1313 10 0*

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Depth (m) 30 C 20 D Trawls N=405 a)

MOccurrence N=175 CL 10 1z Catch N=1302 0 n- FIiiI ,-

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Temperature (°C) 40 30 C0 Li Trawls N=399

Occurrence N=172

i Catch N=1271 I

10 0

11 ý, 11 F. 111 FL FL FEF- I~r,, [I][I1~i~1 ml Ill li] r 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 Salinity (PPT) 40 -

30 E] Trawls N=341

]

S20 N Occurrence N=121

ýI (D

0.- 0 Catch N=480 10 FL-0 0 1 2 -3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 DO (PPM)

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 i5 0

I-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- o Trawls N=10537 20 0 Occurrence N=383 t- 15 E0Catch N=.1 009 b 10 5

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)

[I Trawls N=12193 50-M Occurrence N=417 40

, 30 0 Catch N=1 075 a 20 10 , ,~ irr D ,[.R..ni rt-*.- Ll-Ir.n._.n..n .n [F_,,

0 0 0 0 0 0 (:) 0 (0 C I? L ?N2 : 2 ý 0 (

Bottom Depth (m)

[I Trawls N=1959 40-M Occurrence N=133 30 C:

[0 Catch N=310 L2 20 n 10

0 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 [I Trawls N=11844 20 - m Occurrence N=416 0 15 [3 Catch N=805 Q) 10 05 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Bottom Temperature (0C)

[I Trawls N=1 3543 80 0 Occurrence N=477 60 El Catch N=901 L) 40 n 20 0

N I ?Tr- 9 0 c 0 0 2ý 0n

- r r CNI C? i U? OA N M Bottom Depth (m) 0 Trawls N=1956 50 0 Occurrence N=138 40 30 0 Catch N=285

_ 20 10 0

27 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 Salinity (PPT)

Figure 23. cont'd.

Page 47 Spring 40 30O

[- Trawls N=330 02 2 4 IEl N Occurrence N=43 Catch N=97

[T *14 1' i 'I l~rf tP -I 'L-rE F T,-i1--r-l r--*-'-, . . .

-. 0,- 2 - - 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Depth (m) 50 40

[] Trawls N=326 C. 30

Occurrence N=42 20

Catch N=96 10 0

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 ii 14 i it 16 18 20 11 22 24 26 28 Temperature (°C) 40 30 El Trawls N=326 20/- Im Occurrence N=42 10 -

ii ~I~1iM Catch N=96 0

0 2 4 "6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 Salinity (PPT) 50 40 El Trawls N=1 77 C: 30-m Occurrence N=25 0- 20 El Catch N=44 10 f) AP -- !17 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 30 L-1Trawls N=356 C* 20 o Occurrence N=1 53 ci EDCatch N=457 10 0i 0 2 F1.

4 II 6 8 10 liti[i~F~

12 WI 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Depth (m) 40 30 *i Trawls N=352

Occurrence N=151 20 11 Catch N=452 10 10 0

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Temperature (°C) 20

] Trawls N=347 I Occurrence N=148 a) 10 C-, Catch N=443 0 2 4

-nr-nIyIin 6 8 II----

-lrn n-n-1 T7 Ii i Itýn-n-7-I-1i 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 Salinity (PPT) 50"-

40

].Trawls N=215 30

Occurrence N=1106 20 Catch N=309 10

-! . . .l'= -* * --

T F.-TI- C, 0

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 DO (PPM)

Figure 24. cont'd.

Page 49 Fall 30

, [] Trawis N=586 20 CL 10 tl

Ell

,o Occurrence N=51 Catch N83 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26- 28 Depth (m) 50 40 C 30, *iTrawls N=570 a)

C-,

Occurrence N=48 20 LI Catch N=79 10 0 ii 1 rL~ r r 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Temperature (°C) 30 20 E] Trawls N=532 C

0)

C.)

Occurrence N=48 0) 0~ 10-

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 -

El Trawls N=458 C 30 -

0 Occurrence N=40 C.,

20 - 0, Catch N=61 10 0 i 0 1 2 3 4 5

-nI Iit..

6 7

..".w.. .

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 Cu " , ' 00, 4000 , 0.05S 2000 0 , , , . I 1 ,

I I ri i ! ' ' , i 0 .00 o C'4 .1 (.0 00 0 C'4 (N C 0 N *(0 I (0 o00 C eNJ T (D0o0 0 0*2 0) 0) 0)

(0

-0 0)

-0 0)b 0

N- 0)

N- 0) - 0) 0)-O 0)

-O 0)

- 0)- 0) 0- 00)- 0)-

0 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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