EN

Mottled Skate

Beringraja pulchra

Declining

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Aleutian skate faces severe population declines primarily due to intensive commercial fishing pressure across its North Pacific range. Bottom trawling operations targeting groundfish species frequently capture this slow-growing ray as bycatch, with high mortality rates due to its fragile cartilaginous structure. Climate-driven shifts in ocean temperatures and currents are altering the distribution of its preferred prey species, forcing population fragmentation across its already limited habitat range.

Threat summary

Habitat

Beringraja pulchra inhabits continental shelf and slope waters of the North Pacific, typically found at depths between 15-440 meters on soft sediment bottoms. This benthic species prefers cooler waters along the coasts of Alaska, British Columbia, and the northern California coast, often associated with muddy or sandy substrates where it feeds on bottom-dwelling invertebrates.

Conservation measures underway

Species recoveryAwareness & communicationsCompliance and enforcement

Other threatened species in RAJIDAE

CR

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Dipturus mennii

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EN

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Zearaja maugeana

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VU

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VU

Shagreen Skate

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Xanthocyparis vietnamensis

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Dragon Spruce

Picea asperata

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VU

Likiang Spruce

Picea likiangensis

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Mottled Skate classified as Endangered?
Mottled Skate is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The Aleutian skate faces severe population declines primarily due to intensive commercial fishing pressure across its North Pacific range. Bottom trawling operations targeting groundfish species frequently capture this slow-growing ray as bycatch, with high mortality rates due to its fragile cartilaginous structure. Climate-driven shifts in ocean temperatures and currents are altering the distribution of its preferred prey species, forcing population fragmentation across its already limited habitat range.
Where does Mottled Skate live?
Mottled Skate occurs in China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and Taiwan. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Mottled Skate?
The main threats to Mottled Skate are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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