Grantee: Orkney Skate Trust

Duration:  18 months (May 2025 – December 2026) 

 

Background

The flapper skate, and blue skate, are unique fish species listed as ‘critically endangered’ in European waters.

Flapper skates (Dipturus intermedius) are thought to be endemic to the Northeast Atlantic, with population strongholds on the West Coast of Scotland, in particular the Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura MPA. They are ocean giants, measuring up to 2.85m in length and 100kg in weight, with the ability to live for over 50 years. The blue skate (Dipturus batis) is slightly smaller than the flapper skate, and is more widespread, extending south into the Celtic Sea.

As well as being important from a heritage perspective, blue skate and flapper skate play an important ecosystem role, maintaining balance in the benthic (seafloor) food web, where they are apex predators.

However, they face several threats from human activity. Historically, they were overfished in Scotland until as recently as 2009, when it became illegal to land them commercially.  Today, they are regularly caught accidentally (bycatch) through destructive fishing practices including bottom trawling (see here for 2025 incident).

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) can be effective in helping the species recover. For example, catches have increased by up to 92% in the Loch Sunart to the Sound of Jura MPA. However, skate distributions are still poorly understood in many parts of Scotland, preventing further protected areas from being identified and designated.

The Project

Grant 1: £14,976, April 2025

This HIEF grant supported the field survey campaign in 2025, which aimed to map the distribution and abundance of adult and juvenile flapper and blue skate species in Orkney waters. Analysis of the surveys will produce high quality maps to serve as key tools for conservation planning, with data potentially helping to inform the designation of an Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA).

Update: December 2025

Over the summer, the team successfully carried out 38 Baited Camera Surveys from 15m to 76m using multiple different charter vessels in Orkney. Survey review and analysis is now underway.

Footage shared on social media has generated significant interest, for example the below video received over 86,000 views.

Grant 2: £20,000, January 2026
Building on the previous year’s project, Orkney Skate Trust are carrying out further shark and skate monitoring in 2026. Repeat surveys will provide evidence on species presence, behaviour, arrival times, sex, and condition, while dorsal images of flapper skates will support individual identification through the Skate Spotter project.

Simultaneously, the team are aiming to develop a novel BRUV system with 360-degree cameras to attract and record midwater porbeagle sharks. This species is closely related to the great white shark, though significantly smaller and adapted to living in cold waters. It is currently classified as ‘vulnerable’ by the IUCN, and it is therefore  important to improve understanding of their distribution and site use.

Note: Thank you to the BA Better World Community Fund for generously supporting this work on Crowdfunder.