Undulate skate
Undulate ray is one of the most distinctive members of the skate family, with dark, wavy bands and spots across a pale grey to sandy-yellow upper surface. Its broad, diamond-shaped body is covered with small spines, while the underside is pale. It can grow to around one metre in length and weigh up to 10kg.
Undulate ray has a patchy distribution across the northeast Atlantic, extending from the southwest of the British Isles south towards northwest Africa, including the Canary Islands and parts of the western Mediterranean.
In UK waters, it is most strongly associated with the English Channel, where locally abundant populations occur along parts of the south coast and around the Channel Islands. Undulate ray lives on or close to the seabed, favouring sandy and mixed habitats.
Sustainability Rating
Status: The English Channel population has recovered significantly following a period of overfishing and restrictions on landings. Current scientific assessments indicate that the stock is healthy, with biomass above sustainable reference points and fishing pressure below sustainable limits. However, undulate ray is slow-growing, can live for around 20 years and does not reach sexual maturity until approximately nine years old, making careful management important.
Best Choice: Undulate ray from the well-managed English Channel stock, where catches are controlled by quota and specific measures are in place to protect the population.
Avoid: Undulate ray where the origin cannot be verified or where there is insufficient stock information and effective fisheries management.
Culinary Uses
The wings provide firm, white flesh with a mild, slightly sweet flavour.
Excellent pan-fried, poached or baked.
Works particularly well with butter, capers, lemon and fresh herbs.
The flesh separates easily into long strands when cooked and can also be used in seafood salads and other fish dishes.
Best Fishing Practices
Undulate ray catches in the English Channel are managed through a specific quota, alongside restrictions designed to protect both juvenile and larger breeding fish.
Fish measuring less than 78cm or more than 97cm cannot be retained, and commercial fishing for undulate ray is prohibited between May and August.
Accurate identification and reporting are particularly important for rays because different species have different stock conditions and management requirements.
Seasonality
Undulate ray can be landed between January and April and again between September and December. Commercial catches are prohibited between 1 May and 31 August, providing protection during an important part of the species' reproductive period.
Supporting Local, Sustainable Seafood
The recovery of undulate ray in the English Channel demonstrates how effective fisheries management can help rebuild a depleted population. Following restrictions on fishing, the stock has recovered to a level where carefully controlled commercial catches are once again permitted.
Choosing correctly identified undulate ray from the managed English Channel fishery supports continued monitoring and responsible fishing while helping protect the stock’s long-term recovery.
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