The fisheries biology of commercial ray species from two geographically distinct regions

Abstract

Age, growth and maturity were investigated in the commercial ray species from two contrasting, and geographically distinct regions; namely the Falkland Islands’ ray fishery, which is recently established, carefully managed fishery, and mainly exploits bathyrajids in a relatively deep, cold water environment; and the Irish ray fishery (ICES division VIIa and Vllg), which is long established, unregulated, and exploits rays in shallower, warmer waters. In addition, for the Irish ray fishery, a detailed review of the data available from the fishery was carried out, and an intensive port-sampling programme was initiated to attain the size and age structure of the commercial landings by species and sex, and from the results the status of the ray species was assessed.