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BELAS tagged species
Acoustic telemetry in BELAS will focus on a few species of sharks and skates in the Ria de Vigo, for which we aim to obtain robust information about movements and behaviour. Opportunistically, other species of elasmobranchs might be tagged depending on opportunity in an attempt to provide preliminary insight future projects can be based on.
Scroll down and get to know our tagged species.
Small-spotted catshark (locally: pintaroxa, melgacho, rañorte). Scyliorhinus canicula.
PRIORITY SPECIES
Small benthic shark, with a wide vertical distribution from less than 10 m to more than several hundred meters depth. Widely distributed in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. Locally abundant in Galicia, and harvested by the artisanal and industrial fleet. Oviparous, laying paired eggs in shallow subtidal areas, although some egg cases have been found in the deeper part of intertidal zones. Conservation status in Europe (IUCN, 2014): least concern.
Photo: BELAS
Undulate skate (locally: raia mansa, raia mosaico).
Raja undulata.
PRIORITY SPECIES
Beautiful skate inhabiting shallow waters of the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. Easily spotted in our daily dives. Quite abundant in Galicia, where it's an important species for the artisanal fishery (edible and tasty). Oviparous, paired eggs are laid in shallow waters. Conservation status in Europe (IUCN, 2015): near threatened.
Photo: BELAS
Common eagle ray (locally: chucho, ouxa, raia látigo). Myliobatis aquila.
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PRIORITY SPECIES
This is a bentho-pelagic ray of wide distribution in Europe, the Mediterranean and the African Atlantic and Indian coasts. It can swim in several hundred meters depth waters, but is is more common in shallow waters less than 50 m. Ovoviviparous with clutch of three to seven young developing inside the mother, receiving nourishment at first from their egg yolks, but later from fluids secreted by their mother. Potentially dangerous due to the presence of a spike in the base of the (very long) tail. Not interesting for the market, but a source of concern for fishers due to the local high abundance, potential interaction with clam banks and entanglement with nets. Conservation status in Europe (IUCN, 2014): vulnerable.
Photo: Kenn Papadopoulo
Blue shark (locally: tintorera, quenlla, tiburón azul). Prionace glauca.
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One of the most iconic sharks worldwide, also present in the Galician coasts and in the juvenile phase, seasonally present inside the Ria de Vigo (or more generally, in coastal areas of Galicia). Pelagic species capable of performing amazing displacements across ocean basins. The biology and behaviour of juveniles remain a mystery. Viviparous, with females delivering newborns directly. Highly harvested in all oceans. Conservation status in Europe (IUCN, 2014): near threatened.
Photo: Gonzalo Mucientes (iNat)
Thornback skate (locally: raia brava, raia de clavos). Raja clavata.
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Benthic skate vertically distributed from almost zero to more than a thousand meters depth. Present in the Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean and Southwest Indian Ocean. Highly appreciated by consumers and therefore harvested and supplied to the local markets. Polyandric species with a oviparous reproduction more, laying pair of eggs presumably in shallow waters. Conservation status in Europe (IUCN, 2014): near threatened.
Photo: BELAS
Spotted ray (locally: raia de puntos). Raja montagui.
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It is actually a skate, a beautiful one with dark dots covering the dorsal surface. Distributed in the NE Atlantic and the Mediterranean, in waters down to 500 m. Not as abundant as the undulate skate in Galicia, but often caught together by artisanal fisheries and then supplied to the local markets, where it is highly accepted by the consumers. It is oviparous. Conservation status in Europe (IUCN, 2015): least concern.
Photo: Ross Bullimore (Flickr)
Electric ray (locally: torpedo, tembladera). Torpedo marmorata.
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The iconic electric ray is also resident inside the Ria de Vigo. Fishers report high presence in the innermost bay of the Ria. It is not consumed and it is not a matter of concern for fishers, so it goes highly unnoticed locally. It is is aplacental viviparous, with the developing embryos sustained by yolk and histotroph ("uterine milk") produced by the mother. Conservation status in Europe (IUCN, 2014): least concern.
Photo: Luis Pérez Berrocal (Flickr)
Blonde skate (locally: raia de puntos). Raja brachyura.
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Distributed in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean at depths ranging from shallow waters to 300-400 m depth. Occasionally caught by the fishery and then supplied into the market. It is also oviparous, with pair of eggs being laid in shallow waters. Conservation status in Europe (IUCN, 2014): near threatened.
Photo: BELAS
