Flapper skate are one of the biggest fish in Britain getting over 200lb #flapperskate #science #nature
July 17, 2026 at 5:59 AM
Flapper skate are one of the biggest fish in Britain getting over 200lb #flapperskate #science #nature
Nothing to see here… just a #catshark #starryskate and a #flapperskate #eggcase on the draining rack!
🌊 🧪 🦈
🌊 🧪 🦈
January 20, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Nothing to see here… just a #catshark #starryskate and a #flapperskate #eggcase on the draining rack!
🌊 🧪 🦈
🌊 🧪 🦈
I am really enjoying bluesky! Great #science & #marinelife content!
Here’s a short clip of my favourite chance encounter with a female #flapperskate
Despite surveying egg-laying sites regularly for several yrs, this was my first time seeing an adult!
Thank you to my new followers 🙂
#scubadiving
Here’s a short clip of my favourite chance encounter with a female #flapperskate
Despite surveying egg-laying sites regularly for several yrs, this was my first time seeing an adult!
Thank you to my new followers 🙂
#scubadiving
November 15, 2024 at 8:55 PM
I am really enjoying bluesky! Great #science & #marinelife content!
Here’s a short clip of my favourite chance encounter with a female #flapperskate
Despite surveying egg-laying sites regularly for several yrs, this was my first time seeing an adult!
Thank you to my new followers 🙂
#scubadiving
Here’s a short clip of my favourite chance encounter with a female #flapperskate
Despite surveying egg-laying sites regularly for several yrs, this was my first time seeing an adult!
Thank you to my new followers 🙂
#scubadiving
Ever wondered what #flapperskate teeth/jaws look like?
Here are a couple of images I took after performing a necropsy on a dead animal that washed onshore.
Like #sharks they have the “conveyor belt” replacement system.
#marinelife #scicomm 🧪
@whysharksmatter.bsky.social
Here are a couple of images I took after performing a necropsy on a dead animal that washed onshore.
Like #sharks they have the “conveyor belt” replacement system.
#marinelife #scicomm 🧪
@whysharksmatter.bsky.social
November 23, 2024 at 8:34 PM
Ever wondered what #flapperskate teeth/jaws look like?
Here are a couple of images I took after performing a necropsy on a dead animal that washed onshore.
Like #sharks they have the “conveyor belt” replacement system.
#marinelife #scicomm 🧪
@whysharksmatter.bsky.social
Here are a couple of images I took after performing a necropsy on a dead animal that washed onshore.
Like #sharks they have the “conveyor belt” replacement system.
#marinelife #scicomm 🧪
@whysharksmatter.bsky.social
New paper! We estimated the reproductive timing of the critically endangered #flapperskate by making use of a pre-existing #citizenscience photo ID database 📸 with @davemarinebio.glasgow.ac.uk @jathorburn.bsky.social Paper ⏩ doi.org/10.1111/jfb.... & summary below ⏬
April 10, 2025 at 9:04 AM
New paper! We estimated the reproductive timing of the critically endangered #flapperskate by making use of a pre-existing #citizenscience photo ID database 📸 with @davemarinebio.glasgow.ac.uk @jathorburn.bsky.social Paper ⏩ doi.org/10.1111/jfb.... & summary below ⏬
👀 I was up in Peterhead (Ugie Estuary) last Thursday for work. Several Flapper Skate empty eggcases and a Fairy Liquid bottle that is at least 54 years old!!!
🌊
#flapperskate
🌊
#flapperskate
February 1, 2025 at 4:51 PM
👀 I was up in Peterhead (Ugie Estuary) last Thursday for work. Several Flapper Skate empty eggcases and a Fairy Liquid bottle that is at least 54 years old!!!
🌊
#flapperskate
🌊
#flapperskate
This was the first live #flapperskate I encountered in 2021!
He appeared out of the silty seabed gloom at about 35m in Loch Sween 🏴
We set out to try and film the skate and had been diving all day, this was our final dive!
@whysharksmatter.bsky.social
🦑 🌊 🤿 🧪
#underwater #elasmobranch
He appeared out of the silty seabed gloom at about 35m in Loch Sween 🏴
We set out to try and film the skate and had been diving all day, this was our final dive!
@whysharksmatter.bsky.social
🦑 🌊 🤿 🧪
#underwater #elasmobranch
March 31, 2025 at 8:51 PM
This was the first live #flapperskate I encountered in 2021!
He appeared out of the silty seabed gloom at about 35m in Loch Sween 🏴
We set out to try and film the skate and had been diving all day, this was our final dive!
@whysharksmatter.bsky.social
🦑 🌊 🤿 🧪
#underwater #elasmobranch
He appeared out of the silty seabed gloom at about 35m in Loch Sween 🏴
We set out to try and film the skate and had been diving all day, this was our final dive!
@whysharksmatter.bsky.social
🦑 🌊 🤿 🧪
#underwater #elasmobranch
It’s that time of year when i start to free up some space on my phone & inadvertently revisit moments from earlier in the year…
Late June, excellent visibility, local dive site, the most beautiful #FlapperSkate !
My first underwater encounter with this #criticallyendangered elasmo!
#marinelife 🦑
Late June, excellent visibility, local dive site, the most beautiful #FlapperSkate !
My first underwater encounter with this #criticallyendangered elasmo!
#marinelife 🦑
December 5, 2023 at 9:03 PM
It’s that time of year when i start to free up some space on my phone & inadvertently revisit moments from earlier in the year…
Late June, excellent visibility, local dive site, the most beautiful #FlapperSkate !
My first underwater encounter with this #criticallyendangered elasmo!
#marinelife 🦑
Late June, excellent visibility, local dive site, the most beautiful #FlapperSkate !
My first underwater encounter with this #criticallyendangered elasmo!
#marinelife 🦑
🙌 Successful Flapper Skate Egg-case Hunt on Friday with Tattie!
Fifteen found which isn’t bad for the Scottish mainland! A few interesting ones and some with evidence of potential predation 🐚 🐙 🦀
#flapperskate #eggcase #spaniel #coast #marinelife #scotland
Fifteen found which isn’t bad for the Scottish mainland! A few interesting ones and some with evidence of potential predation 🐚 🐙 🦀
#flapperskate #eggcase #spaniel #coast #marinelife #scotland
February 1, 2026 at 5:14 PM
🙌 Successful Flapper Skate Egg-case Hunt on Friday with Tattie!
Fifteen found which isn’t bad for the Scottish mainland! A few interesting ones and some with evidence of potential predation 🐚 🐙 🦀
#flapperskate #eggcase #spaniel #coast #marinelife #scotland
Fifteen found which isn’t bad for the Scottish mainland! A few interesting ones and some with evidence of potential predation 🐚 🐙 🦀
#flapperskate #eggcase #spaniel #coast #marinelife #scotland
🌊 Thank you to the organisers and year 2 students taking the Marine Environments course at SRUC for inviting me along to give a guest lecture today!
#marinepollution #litter #environment #flapperskate #eggcases
#marinepollution #litter #environment #flapperskate #eggcases
April 14, 2026 at 6:44 PM
🌊 Thank you to the organisers and year 2 students taking the Marine Environments course at SRUC for inviting me along to give a guest lecture today!
#marinepollution #litter #environment #flapperskate #eggcases
#marinepollution #litter #environment #flapperskate #eggcases
The utter contrast of Cairnbulg Beach never fails to astound me.
We have removed TONNES of #beachlitter from here over the years & still it comes ashore, & yet wading through it, I came across a hatched critically endangered #FlapperSkate #eggcase !
Exasperation and hope all rolled into one….
🌊 🧪
We have removed TONNES of #beachlitter from here over the years & still it comes ashore, & yet wading through it, I came across a hatched critically endangered #FlapperSkate #eggcase !
Exasperation and hope all rolled into one….
🌊 🧪
February 6, 2025 at 6:42 PM
The utter contrast of Cairnbulg Beach never fails to astound me.
We have removed TONNES of #beachlitter from here over the years & still it comes ashore, & yet wading through it, I came across a hatched critically endangered #FlapperSkate #eggcase !
Exasperation and hope all rolled into one….
🌊 🧪
We have removed TONNES of #beachlitter from here over the years & still it comes ashore, & yet wading through it, I came across a hatched critically endangered #FlapperSkate #eggcase !
Exasperation and hope all rolled into one….
🌊 🧪
🧵 ⚠️ Yesterday in my role with Shark & Skate Scotland I attended the Flapper Skate that stranded on Montrose Beach.
We were able to attend quite quickly and perform the necropsy (see photos in thread).
#flapperskate #research #necropsy #elasmobranch #science #education #marinelife
🌊 🦈 🧪
We were able to attend quite quickly and perform the necropsy (see photos in thread).
#flapperskate #research #necropsy #elasmobranch #science #education #marinelife
🌊 🦈 🧪
October 15, 2025 at 8:50 AM
🧵 ⚠️ Yesterday in my role with Shark & Skate Scotland I attended the Flapper Skate that stranded on Montrose Beach.
We were able to attend quite quickly and perform the necropsy (see photos in thread).
#flapperskate #research #necropsy #elasmobranch #science #education #marinelife
🌊 🦈 🧪
We were able to attend quite quickly and perform the necropsy (see photos in thread).
#flapperskate #research #necropsy #elasmobranch #science #education #marinelife
🌊 🦈 🧪
Researchers at UHI Shetland led the submissions, for an area for flapper skate in the Fair Isle area and one for thornback ray in the Swarbacks Minn area.
🦈 🌊 #marinelife #flapperskate #thornbackskate #elasmobranch
www.shetnews.co.uk/2025/08/06/i...
🦈 🌊 #marinelife #flapperskate #thornbackskate #elasmobranch
www.shetnews.co.uk/2025/08/06/i...
Inshore areas recognised for flapper skate and thornback rays
TWO INSHORE areas in Shetland are set to be awarded status as important shark and ray areas (ISRAs). Researchers at UHI Shetland led the submissions, for an...
www.shetnews.co.uk
August 6, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Researchers at UHI Shetland led the submissions, for an area for flapper skate in the Fair Isle area and one for thornback ray in the Swarbacks Minn area.
🦈 🌊 #marinelife #flapperskate #thornbackskate #elasmobranch
www.shetnews.co.uk/2025/08/06/i...
🦈 🌊 #marinelife #flapperskate #thornbackskate #elasmobranch
www.shetnews.co.uk/2025/08/06/i...
🦈 Packing a bag for the #EEA2025 (European Elasmobranch Association) conference, including some #flapperskate eggcases for an exhibition at the Rotterdam Oceanium!
🚨 Will i get quizzed going through airport security?? Place your bets now! 😆
@markdeboer.bsky.social
@whysharksmatter.bsky.social
🚨 Will i get quizzed going through airport security?? Place your bets now! 😆
@markdeboer.bsky.social
@whysharksmatter.bsky.social
October 27, 2025 at 6:56 PM
🦈 Packing a bag for the #EEA2025 (European Elasmobranch Association) conference, including some #flapperskate eggcases for an exhibition at the Rotterdam Oceanium!
🚨 Will i get quizzed going through airport security?? Place your bets now! 😆
@markdeboer.bsky.social
@whysharksmatter.bsky.social
🚨 Will i get quizzed going through airport security?? Place your bets now! 😆
@markdeboer.bsky.social
@whysharksmatter.bsky.social
An unfortunate find of this deceased female #FlapperSkate at John O’Groats 🏴 yesterday.
Myself & my colleague had work commitments so were unable to attend, however, thanks to Ian Miller who reported the find, who then went above & beyond to take samples & measurements for research!
#marinelife
Myself & my colleague had work commitments so were unable to attend, however, thanks to Ian Miller who reported the find, who then went above & beyond to take samples & measurements for research!
#marinelife
November 18, 2024 at 8:23 PM
An unfortunate find of this deceased female #FlapperSkate at John O’Groats 🏴 yesterday.
Myself & my colleague had work commitments so were unable to attend, however, thanks to Ian Miller who reported the find, who then went above & beyond to take samples & measurements for research!
#marinelife
Myself & my colleague had work commitments so were unable to attend, however, thanks to Ian Miller who reported the find, who then went above & beyond to take samples & measurements for research!
#marinelife
👀 This is a new one, Flapper Skate chomps the side of a boat off Shetland…. Side of the RIB covered in bait gunk?!
#flapperskate #flatshark #marinelife #ukwildlife
www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
#flapperskate #flatshark #marinelife #ukwildlife
www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
Watch the moment a skate attacks a fisherman's boat off Shetland
RNLI technician Paul Hutchison was out at sea at Muckle Roe when the large fish began to ram his boat.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 23, 2024 at 10:09 AM
👀 This is a new one, Flapper Skate chomps the side of a boat off Shetland…. Side of the RIB covered in bait gunk?!
#flapperskate #flatshark #marinelife #ukwildlife
www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
#flapperskate #flatshark #marinelife #ukwildlife
www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
🖋️ “…we pioneer the application of particle algorithms for conservation with a case study of the Critically Endangered flapper skate (Dipturus intermedius)”
#flapperskate #MPA #animaltracking #conservation #marinelife
🌊 🦈
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#flapperskate #MPA #animaltracking #conservation #marinelife
🌊 🦈
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Animal tracking with particle algorithms informs protected area design
Particle algorithms strengthen the value of acoustic telemetry for conservation.
www.science.org
December 17, 2025 at 8:44 AM
🖋️ “…we pioneer the application of particle algorithms for conservation with a case study of the Critically Endangered flapper skate (Dipturus intermedius)”
#flapperskate #MPA #animaltracking #conservation #marinelife
🌊 🦈
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#flapperskate #MPA #animaltracking #conservation #marinelife
🌊 🦈
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
An interesting new open access paper which considerably adds to existing baseline population & distribution data of the #flapperskate identifying 3 core regions likely reflecting natural refugia.
🧪 🦈 🌊
@whysharksmatter.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
🧪 🦈 🌊
@whysharksmatter.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
July 2, 2025 at 4:19 PM
An interesting new open access paper which considerably adds to existing baseline population & distribution data of the #flapperskate identifying 3 core regions likely reflecting natural refugia.
🧪 🦈 🌊
@whysharksmatter.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
🧪 🦈 🌊
@whysharksmatter.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
⬆️ In short fishermen (operating from Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Macduff, Pittenweem, Lerwick, Scalloway, Eyemouth, Troon, Stornoway, Ullapool and Mallaig) reported a significant increase in Flapper Skate numbers over the last 4 yrs 👍
#flapperskate #marinelife
www.nature.scot/doc/naturesc...
#flapperskate #marinelife
www.nature.scot/doc/naturesc...
NatureScot Research Report 1390 - Local ecological knowledge from the Scottish fishing fleet on the critically endangered flapper skate (Dipturus intermedius)
NatureScot Research Report 1390 - Local ecological knowledge from the Scottish fishing fleet on the critically endangered flapper skate (Dipturus intermedius)
www.nature.scot
January 14, 2026 at 7:18 PM
⬆️ In short fishermen (operating from Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Macduff, Pittenweem, Lerwick, Scalloway, Eyemouth, Troon, Stornoway, Ullapool and Mallaig) reported a significant increase in Flapper Skate numbers over the last 4 yrs 👍
#flapperskate #marinelife
www.nature.scot/doc/naturesc...
#flapperskate #marinelife
www.nature.scot/doc/naturesc...
‼️ 🦈 Hundreds of species of highly threatened UK wildlife are left without much needed legal protection as the UK government opt not to act on the definitive findings of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
This includes: Critically Endangered #blueskate #flapperskate & Porbeagle #shark
This includes: Critically Endangered #blueskate #flapperskate & Porbeagle #shark
December 19, 2025 at 3:08 PM
‼️ 🦈 Hundreds of species of highly threatened UK wildlife are left without much needed legal protection as the UK government opt not to act on the definitive findings of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
This includes: Critically Endangered #blueskate #flapperskate & Porbeagle #shark
This includes: Critically Endangered #blueskate #flapperskate & Porbeagle #shark
The critically endangered #FlapperSkate is making a comeback in and around the #LochSunart and Sound of Jura Marine Protected Area 🌊🐟 after commercial fishing of the species was banned in 2009 🎣. About half of fishers across Scotland 🏴 say they are now seeing flapper skates almost every day 👀.
Flapper skates make a recovery in Scottish waters
Research by Heriot-Watt University suggests that flapper skate numbers are on the increase.
www.bbc.com
February 16, 2026 at 7:40 PM
The critically endangered #FlapperSkate is making a comeback in and around the #LochSunart and Sound of Jura Marine Protected Area 🌊🐟 after commercial fishing of the species was banned in 2009 🎣. About half of fishers across Scotland 🏴 say they are now seeing flapper skates almost every day 👀.
🤿 We are in @oceanographicmag.bsky.social 🙌
Check out this link to learn more about Flapper Skate, how Shark & Skate Scotland came about and what we have been working on at the Kilchoan Melfort Trust!
🌊 🧪 🦑
#flapperskate #shark #conservation
oceanographicmagazine.com/features/sco...
Check out this link to learn more about Flapper Skate, how Shark & Skate Scotland came about and what we have been working on at the Kilchoan Melfort Trust!
🌊 🧪 🦑
#flapperskate #shark #conservation
oceanographicmagazine.com/features/sco...
Scotland's flapper skate
In Scotland, the Edges of Earth expedition meets a team of researchers trying to find out more about the elusive flapper skate.
oceanographicmagazine.com
March 20, 2025 at 5:24 PM
🤿 We are in @oceanographicmag.bsky.social 🙌
Check out this link to learn more about Flapper Skate, how Shark & Skate Scotland came about and what we have been working on at the Kilchoan Melfort Trust!
🌊 🧪 🦑
#flapperskate #shark #conservation
oceanographicmagazine.com/features/sco...
Check out this link to learn more about Flapper Skate, how Shark & Skate Scotland came about and what we have been working on at the Kilchoan Melfort Trust!
🌊 🧪 🦑
#flapperskate #shark #conservation
oceanographicmagazine.com/features/sco...
A team of researchers has succeeded in tracing the hidden paths of #flapperskate on the seabed around #Scotland using a new combination of data and statistical methods. This information helps to designate suitable protected areas for these critically endangered #fish.
👉 www.eawag.ch/en/info/port...
👉 www.eawag.ch/en/info/port...
November 27, 2025 at 8:30 AM
A team of researchers has succeeded in tracing the hidden paths of #flapperskate on the seabed around #Scotland using a new combination of data and statistical methods. This information helps to designate suitable protected areas for these critically endangered #fish.
👉 www.eawag.ch/en/info/port...
👉 www.eawag.ch/en/info/port...
🙌 Well done to our volunteers from the ‘Engage Service’, part of the Aberdeen Foyer charity!
Today they took part in a beach clean, whilst concurrently conducting a #flapperskate eggcase search and then had a closer look at the beach sediment for microplastics!
#beachclean #engage #environment
Today they took part in a beach clean, whilst concurrently conducting a #flapperskate eggcase search and then had a closer look at the beach sediment for microplastics!
#beachclean #engage #environment
May 7, 2025 at 7:25 PM
🙌 Well done to our volunteers from the ‘Engage Service’, part of the Aberdeen Foyer charity!
Today they took part in a beach clean, whilst concurrently conducting a #flapperskate eggcase search and then had a closer look at the beach sediment for microplastics!
#beachclean #engage #environment
Today they took part in a beach clean, whilst concurrently conducting a #flapperskate eggcase search and then had a closer look at the beach sediment for microplastics!
#beachclean #engage #environment
Came across this female flapper skate while cleaning Stoer Beach, Assynt. Was still pretty fresh & absolutely huge !
Also photos of flapper skate egg case which I recently found on Balchladich beach.
Amazing to think that it eventually grows into something so big !
#flapperskate #MarineLife!🦑
Also photos of flapper skate egg case which I recently found on Balchladich beach.
Amazing to think that it eventually grows into something so big !
#flapperskate #MarineLife!🦑
November 21, 2024 at 3:17 PM
Came across this female flapper skate while cleaning Stoer Beach, Assynt. Was still pretty fresh & absolutely huge !
Also photos of flapper skate egg case which I recently found on Balchladich beach.
Amazing to think that it eventually grows into something so big !
#flapperskate #MarineLife!🦑
Also photos of flapper skate egg case which I recently found on Balchladich beach.
Amazing to think that it eventually grows into something so big !
#flapperskate #MarineLife!🦑