Rough Skate

Average total length: rough skate 45-80 cm, reaching 100 cm; smooth skate 60-100 cm, reaching 160 cm. The two commercial species found around New Zealand, rough skate and smooth skate, are closely related. Rough skate has rough skin, and relatively broad tail, usually with three rows of conical spines. Smooth skate has smooth skin (except in large specimens) and a thin tail with one to three rows of spines. Smooth skate can also be distinguished by a more pointed snout and fatter disc. Males of both species have claspers and longer pelvic fins at base of tail. Both species occur all around New Zealand; rough skate is more common in coastal waters, smooth skate is usually found in deeper waters to 200 m. Caught mainly by trawling, sometimes by line. Caught all year. Resource size unknown but undoubtedly small.