Winter skate | DE L'EAU À LA BOUCHE

Illustration couleur d'une raie tachetée.

Corps aplati en forme de losange, une longue queue fine et un museau arrondi.

Dos de couleur brun pâle à brun foncé avec de petites taches rondes et d’une à quatre taches blanches bordées de noir. Le côté ventral est blanchâtre avec des marques beiges irrégulières.

Dos est rugueux, avec des épines dont le nombre diminue avec l’âge.

Nom

Winter skate
Leucoraja ocellata

Type

Bottom fish

Autres appellations

Nom en cuisine

État de la ressource

Endangered

Saison de consommation

SIZE :

Up to 109 cm.

LIFE EXPECTANCY :

Jusqu’à 30 ans

LIFE CYCLE :

Sexual maturity between 11 and 13 years.

Males are equipped with erectile hooks, used during mating to transfer sperm. After fertilisation, females can produce up to 52 eggs a year. These are rectangular in shape, brown-green in color and called egg capsules. They are about 8 cm long and have long, horny spikes at the four corners. The incubation period can last up to 22 months. Newborns resemble adults and measure between 11.2 cm and 12.7 cm.

Researchers believe that reproduction may occur throughout the year, with peaks in summer and autumn.

Photographie du ventre d'une raie tachetée.

Winter skate have their reproductive organs on their ventral side.
Credit : Robert Baronet, photo taken in Exploramer's aquariums, 2010.

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On the bottom, usually at depths inferior to 111 m, but can reach depths of over 700 m.

The Winter skate prefers a sandy or gravelly bottom and water temperatures ranging between -1.2 °C and 15 °C.

Photographie d'une raie tachetée nageant au milieu de crabe des neiges.

The winter skate usually stands on the bottom. But isn't it graceful when it swims?
Credit : Robert Baronet, photo taken in Exploramer's aquariums, 2010.

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PREYS :

Squids
Poly-chaetes
Sand lances
Crustaceas

PREDATORS :

Barndoor skates
Grey seals
Sharks

MACHINES :

No commercial fishing. Incidental catch (dredging and trawling).

REGULATIONS :

Fishing for winter skate is banned in Canada. Unfortunately, it is an incidental catch in trawl, dredge, and longline fishing.

BENEFITS :

Winter skate is rich in protein, vitamin B12, and selenium. It is low in fat.

LET’S COOK :

The pectoral fins are known as “skate wings”. White, delicate, and lean, the flesh requires only a short cooking time, offering an exceptional texture that is delicate, yet firm. The wings are delicious pan-fried, poached, or baked. They have a fine, slightly sweet flavour.

Despite this advice, Winter skate is an endangered species. We need to find ways to help it replenish itself.