Current methods and best practice recommendations for skate and ray (Batoidea) research: capture, handling, anaesthesia, euthanasia, and tag attachment

Orrell, Danielle L.; Andrzejaczek, Samantha; Armstrong, Asia O.; Barbosa Martins, Ana; Branco, Ilka; Charvet, Patricia; Chin, Andrew; Elston, Chantel; Espinoza, Mario; Greenway, Eleanor S. I.; McCully Phillips, Sophy R.; Mickle, Megan F.; Murray, Taryn S.; Silva, Joana F.; Thorburn, James; Wosnick, Natascha

Abstract

Skates and rays (Batoidea) play a significant ecological role, contributing to ecosystem services through bioturbation and acting as vital intermediate components of the trophic chain in various aquatic environments. Despite their wide global distribution and ecological importance, batoids receive less attention than their shark relatives, resulting in substantial knowledge gaps that might impede a comprehensive understanding of their conservation status. This review addresses critical aspects of their capture, handling, tagging, and release to provide readers with crucial information needed to perform research on batoids. Protocols for analgesia, anaesthesia, and euthanasia are also discussed, taking into account the ethical and logistical considerations necessary for research involving this group of species. This information can give researchers and ethics committees the knowledge to conduct and approve studies involving batoids, thereby promoting more effective and ethical research practices.

Citation

Orrell, D. L., Andrzejaczek, S., Armstrong, A. O., Barbosa Martins, A., Branco, I., Charvet, P., Chin, A., Elston, C., Espinoza, M., Greenway, E. S. I., McCully Phillips, S. R., Mickle, M. F., Murray, T. S., Silva, J. F., Thorburn, J., & Wosnick, N. (2025). Current methods and best practice recommendations for skate and ray (Batoidea) research: capture, handling, anaesthesia, euthanasia, and tag attachment. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 35(1), 117-144. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-024-09918-3

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 25, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jan 28, 2025
• Publication Date: 2025
• Deposit Date: Feb 17, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 17, 2025
• Journal: Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries
• Print ISSN: 0960-3166
• Electronic ISSN: 1573-5184
• Publisher: Springer
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 35
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 117-144
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-024-09918-3
• Keywords: Elasmobranch, Skates, Rays, Batoidea, Ethical research
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/4121421