Skate Nurseries as Habitat Areas of Particular Concern

Skates (Rajidae) utilize small benthic areas as nurseries to deposit their large eggs. Thirteen nursery sites have been identified in the eastern Bering Sea along the upper continental slope, many at the head of major undersea canyons. In 2010 eight nursery sites in six areas were proposed as HAPC (Habitat Areas of Particular Concern). Because of their HAPC consideration it has become important to identify and characterize preferred nursery habitat and estimate the number of sites to be expected for each species. Oceanographic conditions such as bottom current, temperature, and substrate may be important factors dictating nursery site selection. Using spatial distribution, biological and recruitment characteristics, and information from oceanographic as well as fishery and groundfish survey historical data, expected area used as nursery habitat was estimated for three common eastern Bering Sea species: the Alaska, Aleutian and Bering skates (Bathyraja parmifera, B. aleutica, B. interrupta). Presented will be the current information on skate nursery sites with a short discussion of their vulnerabilities and why they should be considered as unique habitats.