The clearnose skate (Rostroraja eglanteria) is a bottom-dwelling cartilaginous fish found primarily along the western Atlantic coast, from Massachusetts to Florida and into the Gulf of Mexico. Recognizable by its translucent snout and diamond-shaped body, this species inhabits sandy or muddy substrates in shallow coastal waters. The clearnose skate is not typically targeted by commercial fisheries but is often caught as bycatch in trawl and gillnet fisheries targeting other species such as shrimp and finfish. The United States, particularly the states along the Atlantic seaboard like North Carolina, Virginia, and New Jersey, is the primary country harvesting clearnose skates, though landings are relatively modest compared to more commercially valuable skates in Europe. The species is used for bait, fish meal, and occasionally for human consumption, but its economic importance remains secondary to other fishery targets in the region.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States of America | 1 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.