In the sheltered waters off Scotland’s west coast, a high-tech conservation mission is making waves—and it’s not just about saving fish. It’s about bringing together artificial intelligence, citizen scientists, and marine experts to rescue one of the ocean’s oldest and rarest giants: the flapper skate.
A Rare Giant on the Brink
Once widespread across European seas, the flapper skate has faced decades of decline due to overfishing and habitat loss. Now critically endangered, it survives in only a few marine pockets. One such haven is the marine protected area (MPA) around Loch Sunart and the Sound of Jura in Scotland.
That’s where a groundbreaking conservation initiative has taken root—combining AI technology, sea anglers, and a massive photographic database to track, study, and protect these elusive creatures.
Skatespotter: AI-Powered Identification
How It Works
At the heart of this effort is Skatespotter, a growing database created by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) in partnership with NatureScot. It contains nearly 2,500 records of flapper skate—each logged through photographs taken by recreational anglers.
Once uploaded, the images are matched using AI algorithms that identify individual skate based on their unique spot patterns. This process, once manual and time-consuming, has now been supercharged by machine learning.
Impact of AI
With AI clearing a backlog of images, researchers can now process skate sightings faster than ever, providing real-time insights into population trends and movements. This data is crucial in monitoring the health of the species and assessing the effectiveness of the MPA.
The Data Is In: Conservation Is Working
A recent analysis shows that flapper skate populations in the protected waters are indeed rebounding. Catch rates have jumped by as much as 92%, and survival rates have improved dramatically.
Marine biologists and conservationists say this proves that marine protected areas work. They’re now urging the Scottish government to introduce stronger legal protections against commercial fishing in critical habitats to build on this success.
Science Meets Citizen Power
Health Monitoring by RZSS
In addition to tracking movements, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has joined the mission with a health screening program. Veterinarians collect skin swabs, examine skate for parasites, and even conduct ultrasounds to monitor reproductive health.
This deeper understanding helps determine whether the recovering population is not just surviving, but thriving.
Collaboration with Industry
Even industry players are stepping in. SSEN Transmission, an energy company, has partnered with the Orkney Skate Trust to support surveys and share marine data, helping to map out vital habitats and improve biodiversity protection strategies.
A Model for the Future
The flapper skate story is more than a Scottish success—it’s a template for modern conservation. It shows how AI can amplify citizen science, how partnerships across sectors can accelerate results, and how targeted protections can reverse decades of decline.
As one of the ocean’s most mysterious giants fights for survival, it’s the blend of tradition and technology that’s offering it a second chance.
And maybe, just maybe, that’s the future of conservation too.