The roughtail stingray (*Bathytoshia centroura*) is a large, bottom-dwelling ray found in the temperate and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, particularly along the coasts of North America, Europe, and northwest Africa. Characterized by its diamond-shaped body and rough, spiny tail, this species can reach impressive sizes, making it both a target and bycatch in various fisheries. The primary countries involved in the harvesting of roughtail stingray include the United States (especially along the Atlantic coast), Portugal, Spain, and Morocco, where the species is caught using trawls, longlines, and gillnets. While not typically a primary target, roughtail stingrays are often landed as bycatch in mixed-species fisheries, with their meat and cartilage occasionally marketed locally or exported. However, due to their slow reproductive rates and vulnerability to overfishing, some regions have implemented management measures to monitor and restrict their catch, aiming to ensure the long-term sustainability of both the species and the fisheries that encounter them.
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Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.