For more information about this rating please visit: http://www.cornwallgoodseafoodguide.org.uk/fish-guide/spotted-ray.php
How we worked out this Rating
Stock status
The size and health of a fish population, or 'stock', that is being targeted by fishermen is a crucial indicator of whether a fishery is sustainable. If the stock is too small to withstand fishing, it is at risk of crashing. We look at how big the stock is, and how much pressure there is from fishing, to assess this. The target level that many fisheries aim for is 'Maximum Sustainable Yield' - the most fish that can be caught year after year whilst keeping the population at a healthy size.
Spotted ray in this area is data limited, with low resilience to fishing pressure. However, there is currently no concern for fishing pressure or biomass.Route 2 (data limited) scoring has been applied to this rating due to the lack of reference points. The most recent assessment was published in 2024 by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), with the next one due in 2026.Spotted ray has a low resilience to fishing pressure. Currently, fishing pressure is equal to the FMSY proxy. However, as landings have been decreasing since 2012, and remain below the scientific advice by ICES, there is currently no concern for fishing pressure. Stock size is monitored using a biomass index (Itrigger). Although biomass has fluctuated since the timeseries began in 1993, it most recently fell below Itrigger (0.2) in 2008 but has remained above this threshold since. In recent years, biomass indices indicate a slight increase: Index A (mean of 2022–2023) is 0.52 compared with Index B (mean of 2019 and 2021) at 0.51. As the stock has slightly increased and remains above Itrigger, there is currently no concern for biomass.ICES advice on landings follows the MSY approach. It is determined from the most recent advised landings (from 2023-2024), adjusted by several factors: the ratio of Index A to Index B, the ratio of observed mean catch length to target mean catch length, a biomass safeguard, and a precautionary multiplier. As a result, advised landings decreased by 7% from 814 tonnes to 757 tonnes for 2025 and 2026. Discard rates remain unquantified.
Management
Good management is vital to be sure that fishing doesn't cause fish populations to decline. We look at whether regulations follow the best available scientific advice, how well compliance is monitored and enforced, and whether this is effective in maintaining healthy fish stocks.
For more information about this rating please visit: http://www.cornwallgoodseafoodguide.org.uk/fish-guide/spotted-ray.php
Capture method
Environmental impacts of fishing vary hugely, depending on the method used and where it's happening. We look at whether the fishing gear being used could have an effect on seabed habitats, and if so, how severe might this be. We also review whether it catches any other species by accident (bycatch), and what effect this might have on those species - especially if they're Endangered, Threatened, or Protected.
For more information about this rating please visit: http://www.cornwallgoodseafoodguide.org.uk/fish-guide/spotted-ray.php
