Notes on the distribution and length composition of Raja lintea , R. fyllae , R. hyperborea and Bathyraja spinicauda (Pisces: Rajidae) in the deep northeastern North Sea and on the slope of the eastern Norwegian Sea

Abstract

The distribution and length composition of four skate species inhabiting deep shelf and upper slope waters of the Northeastern Atlantic are compared. Raja lintea and Raja fyllae primarily inhabited the Norwegian Deep of the northeastern North Sea, but also occurred in the upper slope waters of the eastern Norwegian Sea, and they had species-specific but partially overlapping distributions. Their areas of distribution were associated with relatively warm Atlantic water masses. In the deeper slope areas with colder Norwegian Sea Deep Water, Raja hyperborea was the only abundant skate, whilst Bathyraja spinicauda seemed associated with the frontal zone between the warm and cold water masses on the upper slope.

The entire size range of Raja fyllae was found, but mainly large Raja lintea . The catches of Raja hyperborea consisted of mostly large individuals, whereas the Bathyraja spinicauda were small, immature specimens.