The Sandpaper Skate (*Bathyraja interrupta*) is a demersal cartilaginous fish found primarily in the cold, deep waters of the North Pacific, notably around the Bering Sea, Sea of Okhotsk, and the northern Japanese coast. Characterized by its rough, sandpaper-like skin and broad, flattened body, this species is typically caught as bycatch in bottom trawl fisheries targeting groundfish. The top countries involved in the harvest of Sandpaper Skate are Russia, Japan, and the United States (primarily Alaska), where the species is landed incidentally alongside more commercially valuable fish such as cod and pollock. While not a primary target, the Sandpaper Skate is occasionally retained for local consumption or processed into fish meal, with its populations monitored due to concerns about the vulnerability of skates and rays to overfishing. The fishing industry in these countries is highly regulated, with bycatch limits and habitat protections in place to help preserve skate populations and the broader marine ecosystem.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States of America | 1 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.