McCain's skate, a common name sometimes used for the species *Bathyraja maccaini*, is a deepwater skate found primarily in the cold waters of the Southern Ocean, especially around Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands. This cartilaginous fish is characterized by its broad, flat body and long, tapering tail, and typically inhabits depths ranging from 100 to over 1,000 meters. The commercial fishing industry for skates, including McCain's skate, is relatively limited compared to other marine species, but countries with access to Southern Ocean fisheries—such as Argentina, Chile, and the United Kingdom (via the Falkland Islands)—occasionally harvest these fish as part of mixed demersal trawl fisheries. The skate is mainly caught as bycatch rather than through targeted fishing, and its wings are sometimes processed for export, particularly to European and Asian markets. However, due to their slow growth and low reproductive rates, skates like McCain's are vulnerable to overfishing, and international regulations, such as those enforced by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), aim to monitor and limit their harvest to ensure sustainable populations.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.