Blonde Ray (Raja brachyura)

Blond ray are a large species found throughout Europe, the Mediterranean, and in Northwestern Africa (Fig. 1) (IUCN, 2009). In Scotland, they are most common in the North and West (Scottish Government, 2011), with quite a spotty presence in the North Sea (Shark Trust, 2020). While often referred to as a ray, this species is infact a skate, as they lay egg cases. 

Blonde rays (Fig. 2) are classified as ‘Near Threatened’, a result of their desirability in both commercial and recreational fishing (IUCN, 2009; Shark Trust, 2020). Their large size and lengthy reproductive cycle exacerbate this threat (Shark Trust, 2020), increasing the chance of bycatch losses while preventing the species efficiently recovering.