Flying Fish Market Report from Day Boat Specialists 17 April 2012

 Missed the previous Flying Fish Report? read it here.

Skate wings

Skates and rays can be difficult to differentiate. Both are flat and (with a few notable exceptions, such as the eagle and manta rays) bottom-dwelling elasmobranchs sharing a similar diamond or rhomboid shape. Some of the most familiar forms occur together in coastal habitats. Distinguishing skates from rays is rather subtle, but once one has learned their respective field marks, it is relatively easy to tell them apart.

Skates have slow growth rates and, since they mature late, low reproductive rates. As a result, skates are vulnerable to over fishing and appear to have been overfished and are suffering reduced population levels in many parts of the world. However, we only buy our skate from day boats with small quotas; meaning that overfishing is minimal and the species aren’t over targeted.

Top tip from flying fish

When buying skate or ray wings they should never smell fishy, if a skate wing is off you will notice a smell of ammonia and will be quite strong smell so stay away!