Cedric the Flapper Skate

Cedric the young flapper skate (Dipturus intermedius) came to us from Orkney at the end of 2020. A damaged flapper skate egg case had been found during an Orkney Skate Trust research survey and it was discovered to have a developing embryo inside. The egg could not be returned to the sea as it was unlikely to survive – so was carefully nurtured in a fish tank in a researcher’s garage and successfully hatched.

With limited facilities to support a growing youngster, the opportunity was taken to move Cedric to Macduff Marine Aquarium to include him in our native collection and highlight this fascinating and critically endangered species.

Flapper skates are the largest skates in the world, growing nearly 3 metres long and 2m across the wings. They were once common across the North-east Atlantic but are now extinct in much of their historic range. Due to intense fishing in 19^th and 20^th centuries, this species is now only found in the northern North Sea, off Scotland’s North-west coast and the Celtic Sea. Flapper skates face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. They are rarer and more endangered than giant pandas, blue whales and mountain gorillas!

Researchers are trying to gather more information to aid the recovery of flapper skate populations. In 2009, it became illegal to land flapper skates commercially. Both adults and their large egg cases remain vulnerable to becoming by-catch in the fishing industry. Flapper skates take around ten years to mature, and so population numbers in Scotland will be slow to recover, even now that some protection is in place.

Our team at the aquarium were able to contribute to the wider understanding of the species by monitoring Cedric’s growth rate and other developmental changes. We will worked closely with scientists from Orkney Skate Trust and other organisations to share information about Cedric as he grew and the plan was to ultimately coordinate his release to the wild when that time came. Sadly Cedric died on the 20th of April after sustaining an injury to his wing, likely from another fish. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts to help him, Cedric just did not recover.

We were all deeply saddened by this turn of events but hope that Cedric’s tale will continue to raise awareness for this majestic species. The publication of the Doric story book 'Cedric e Flapper Skate', from Doric Books, will forever immortalise his story and we hope that his legacy may reach far and wide.