Endangered Inktober - Common Skate by CiamethDay 7 - Common Skate, Dipturus batis formerly Raja ba
Endangered Inktober - Common Skate by Ciameth Day 7 - Common Skate, Dipturus batis formerly Raja batisIUCN Status: Critically EndangeredThe Common Skate was formerly one of the most abundant skates in the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean. It is the world’s largest skate species, reaching 2.85 m (9 ft) in length. Lifespan is between 50-100 years, with individuals maturing at around 11 years. Though once abundant, the Common Skate was so heavily overfished through the 20th century it is now extremely uncommon through most of its range, and absent completely from the Adriatic, Baltic, eastern and southern Mediterranean Sea. It continues to be caught and killed as bycatch at unsustainable rates by commercial gillnet and trawl fisheries in Europe. Expanding marine reserves where commercial fishing is prohibited would help the Common Skate recover. -- source link
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