Skate vertebrae are collected from the annual September scientific survey in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. Skate spines are collected and frozen during the survey, and the vertebrae are processed in the laboratory at a later stage. Age determination is performed episodically on the available samples.

The information made available through this metadata record is the summary of skate vertebrae present in the collection at the Gulf Fisheries Centre in Moncton, NB, Canada.

There is additional information of observed sex, length, weight and age information of skate specimens made by trained Fisheries and Oceans Canada technicians that can be made available upon request.

PARAMETERS COLLECTED:

length (biological), age (biological)

NOTES ON QUALITY CONTROL:

A reference collection for skate vertebrae exists and is used to calibrate the age readings by the fisheries technicians that use the vertebrae for age estimation.

PHYSICAL SAMPLE DETAILS:

Skate vertebrae

SAMPLING METHODS:

Vertebrae are obtained from skate specimens collected on the annual September scientific survey in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. Skate spines are collected and frozen during the survey, and the vertebrae are processed in the laboratory at a later stage. Age determination is performed episodically on the available samples.