Late last year, FjordStrong were joined by BBC NI for a BRUV (baited remote underwater video) survey off the coast of Portstewart. Having spent the previous day in blustering winds, heavy rain and considerable swells (expertly navigated by Richard Connor – skipper of the Causeway Lass), we were glad to see the winds change that morning! As we loaded the equipment on to the boat, the sun was shining, and the sea was calm…. a great way to start off a day of research and development alongside Barra Best and the crew!
Richard and his deck-hand Charlie welcomed us all aboard, and after the final checks we set sail, heading towards the beautiful Skerries and Causeway SAC (Special Area of Conservation). The site was designated by DAERA to protect reefs, sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time, submerged and partially submerged sea caves, and harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). However, a number of mobile species also tend to hang out here, including common seals (Phoca vitulina) grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncates). That day, with Barra Best and the team by our side, we were on the hunt for a rather more enigmatic and elusive species, the flapper skate (Dipturus intermedius).
What is a flapper skate? It might surprise you to hear that the flapper skate is largest of all European Skates & Rays, capable of reaching up to 2.5m from nose to tail, capping out at a hefty 100kg! If you haven’t heard of a flapper skate before, you are not alone – this is an extremely threatened species (more so than the giant panda!), which is rarely seen in most parts of its range. Moreover, years of taxonomic confusion and changes have made it difficult for researchers to get a grasp on even simple information on their life history (think favourite places to eat, age of retirement etc). The flapper skate is a priority species in Northern Irish waters, and has been listed on the recently drafted Northern Ireland Elasmobranch Strategy (you can check out our blog on that here). Baseline information on their distribution and habitat use is key to drive conservation efforts, to save the species from extinction. This is what Fjordstrong are helping to support through tailored, zero-impact surveys.
Based on local knowledge from anglers and sea-users, FjordStrong identified the Skerries and Causeway SAC as an area that could get us a glimpse of the legendary flapper skate. With the Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) we could collect essential data for the species (including habitat use, residency, species interactions), all without leaving any impact on the seabed or surrounding ecosystem! After explaining this to Barra he seemed keen to see the BRUV systems in action, especially once we mentioned the use of stereo-imaging techniques to take accurate measurements with zero-impact! Yes, we are able to measure individual fish without every touching them or disturbing them – a win when you are dealing with such a vulnerable species. With “Lights, Camera, Action” the FjordStrong team illustrated how we deploy our bespoke Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) systems to attract wide-roaming wildlife.
After several deployments, it was time for the cameras to do their work and record the biodiversity and species on the seabed below us. This gave us a chance to have a cup of coffee, a mince pie and chat about all the work being done by so many enthusiasts researchers, conservationists, anglers, and government bodies.
The Orkney Skate Trust (OST) focuses on community-led conservation and research around Orkney, using citizen science and BRUV systems to generate valuable data and raise awareness of the flapper skate.
Angler groups can be a wealth of knowledge, often acting as eyes and ears on the ground. There is a real community of anglers and angling groups that are keen conservationists and help to support and collaborate with other eNGOs and researchers to building on our understanding of flapper skate.
NatureScot has played a major role in designating marine protected areas (MPAs), including the Loch Sunart to the Sound of Jura MPA and the Red Rocks and Longay MPA, safeguarding essential habitats for flapper skate, including an egg nursery habitat!. NatureScot, University of St Andrew’s, Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland (MASTS) along with other partners have also contributed significantly to our understanding of flapper skate movement ecology in Loch Sunart to the Sound of Jura MPA.
More locally, on the island of Ireland, there has been a tremendous effort into understanding flapper skate in our local waters. Queen’s University Belfast, supported by the EU’s SeaMonitor project, led regional research on the flapper skate’s distribution, genetics, and life history, while Ulster Wildlife’s SeaDeep program promoted best practices in tag-and-release angling to monitor flapper skate populations.
Finally, there is the Regional Flapper Skate Working Group (SWG), which is a consortium of stakeholders, all focussed on the same goal – helping understand and protect skate. The SWG brings everyone together, to allow for discussion, lessons learnt, knowledge sharing and consensus agreement on how they can achieve the goal. And this is just a snapshot of some of the effort and work going on to help conserve flapper skate!
It was time to retrieve the BRUV systems and take a look at the footage! Like a well-oiled machine, the FjordStrong team retrieved the BRUVs safety on deck. Everyone was keen to see the footage, but first we had to get back to the harbour before our luck ran out and the weather turned. While the FjordStrong team packed up the equipment and backed up our records, Richard lifted the anchor and headed for land – with porpoises quick to follow, ending a fantastic day out on a wonderful note!
Once safely docked back in Portrush Harbour, we didn’t waste a second reviewing the footage to see what wildlife and biodiversity had been captured. A dogfish peeks into view, brittle stars crawl across the sandy seabed, hermit crabs swiping at particles of bait… a huge assortment of biodiversity, but unfortunately no skate this time. While the flapper skate stayed true to its mystical reputation (this time), our local biodiversity and wildlife is still something to be incredibly grateful for!
We had a great experience with the BBC NI crew and would like to thank them all for their time and interest in what we do. A huge thank you to Richard and Charlie from the Causeway Lass for a great day out on the boat as always. FjordStrong are grateful to be part of the collaborative effort to conserve flapper skate, and value all those who continue to work towards a better future for the marine world. There is so much enthusiasm, effort, and dedication to helping the species, we have every hope that they will be here for years to come!
Tune in to Barra’s Return of the Wild Series 3 on BBC iplayer to see the team in action, and to learn more about the history of the flapper skate!
