Top Cuckoo Ray Fishing Countries

The cuckoo ray (Leucoraja naevus) is a species of skate found in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, particularly along the coasts of Western Europe. Recognizable by its pale spots and distinctive shape, the cuckoo ray inhabits sandy and muddy seabeds at depths ranging from shallow coastal waters to about 300 meters. The primary countries involved in the commercial harvest of cuckoo ray are the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, and Spain, where it is often caught as bycatch in demersal trawl and gillnet fisheries targeting mixed species of skates and rays. While not as heavily targeted as some other rays, the cuckoo ray is valued in local markets, especially in France and the UK, where it is sold fresh or processed. Management measures, such as quotas and minimum landing sizes, are in place in the European Union to help ensure the sustainability of cuckoo ray populations, as skates and rays are generally vulnerable to overfishing due to their slow growth and low reproductive rates.

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.