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Electricity network teams up with marine organisation to save critically endangered skate in Orkney

Flapper skate
An electricity network is working with the Orkney Skate Trust to improve diversity and revive flapper skate population. Image: Orkney Skate Trust

SSEN transmission and the Orkney Skate Trust are working together to help save the islands’ flapper skate population

Orkney’s network of over 70 islands and skerries provide the perfect refuge for flapper skate – the largest known skate in the world.

Flapper skate belong to the shark family and can grow up to 8ft, the largest ever flapper skate was caught in Orkney and weighed almost 16 stone.

However, this species is considered critically endangered as their population decline is due to human activity according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

‘Preserve unique wildlife’

SSEN Transmission, the electricity transmission network operator in the north of Scotland, reached out to the Orkney Skate Trust to improve biodiversity in the areas they operate.

Peter Watson, lead marine consents manager for SSEN Transmission, said: “We are committed to improving biodiversity across all areas we operate, not just on land but in the marine environment too, and as we deliver our network for net zero across Scotland this extends into subsea areas also.

“The information gathered from our partnership with the Orkney Skate Trust will give us a much deeper understanding of the marine environment and the ways in which we can help preserve and enhance the unique wildlife that exists there.

Flapper skate
Flapper skate. Image: Orkney Skate Trust

“This partnership will truly help us understand how we can further work to improve biodiversity in the areas we operate, we look forward to continuing to work with Orkney Skate Trust which has already shared so much understanding regarding the critically endangered flapper skate population in Orkney.”

‘Skates we are fortunate to have’

Daniel Wise, chairman of the Orkney Skate Trust, said: “Orkney Skate Trust exists to share knowledge of endangered species of skates we are so fortunate to have roaming our Scottish seas, with the aim of aiding their conservation.

“We work with like-minded organisations and regulators to provide evidenced based data of this once wide-ranging Atlantic skate, now confined to pockets around the Northern Irish and Scottish coast.

“Our network of citizen scientists uses a range of tools to raise the profile of this enigmatic skate, specialising in innovative non-invasive camera systems that documents skate in their natural habitat.

“It is only possible to achieve our aims through support by organisations like the SSEN Transmission, giving not only the financial support required to undertake surveys but the addition of technical knowhow and invaluable geophysical data from the seabed around Orkney.”

Last year, a critically endangered flapper skate, rescued from Orkney topped the bill of new attractions on offer at Macduff Marine Aquarium.

Flapper Skate Update:Our Baby Flapper, Cedric, is doing well and has gained 63g since arriving in December. That may not sound like a lot but it’s body weight increase of 47%! So he is obviously settled in…#FlapperSkate #Dipturusintermedius #SharkConservation #MacduffMarineAquarium #MorayFirth #LLA #LiveLifeAberdeenshire #RespectProtectEnjoy #VisitScotland #OnlyInScotland

Posted by Macduff Marine Aquarium on Wednesday, 12 May 2021

The flapper skate which they named Cedric, moved into the aquarium at the end of 2020 after an Orkney Skate Trust research survey found the developing embryo inside a damaged egg case.

The egg couldn’t be returned to the sea as it was unlikely to survive – so was carefully nurtured in a fish tank in a researcher’s garage and successfully hatched.

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