Species: Flapper Skate (Egg-laying Site).
Location: Inner Sound, Skye, UK. 2020.
In October 2020 I headed out to the recently discovered Flapper Skate (Dipturus intermedius) egg-laying site located within the Inner Sound of Skye. I was there with a small group of collaborators including divers, videographers, creelers and scallop divers to survey the site. This involved counting the eggcases and observing different stages of development in situ as well as conducting exploratory dives at additional nearby locations (we found more eggcases at these sites too!!)
The main site is truly astonishing, with over 200 eggcases laid by a critically endangered species, slotted in between small boulders on the seabed! This is the only known site off mainland Scotland, I will never forget dropping down at the site, my eyes adjusting during the descent, constantly searching until bingo, there they were!