In some areas of the Mediterranean Sea this species is misidentified with Raja montagui.

The Speckled Skate (Raja polystigma) is a small (to 71 cm total length) skate endemic to the Mediterranean Sea. It occurs on the continental shelf and upper shelf at depths of 10–635 m, and possibly to 800 m depth. The species is taken as incidental catch and retained in mainly trawl and set net (gillnet and trammel) fisheries, and is moderately common. Since 1994, despite extensive fishing pressure, the MEDITS data reveal the Speckled Skate population has been increasing in the Mediterranean Sea over the past three generation lengths (30 years). Its small size and high fecundity likely provide it with some resilience to fishing pressure. There is no evidence of population decline over the past three generation lengths (30 years) and the species is not suspected to be close to reaching the population reduction threshold. Therefore, the Speckled Skate is assessed as Least Concern. The assessment should be revisited if, in the future, the mis-identification issues with Spotted Skate (Raja montagui) are resolved and alter the outcomes of the MEDiterranean International Trawl Survey analyses.

The Speckled Skate is endemic to the Mediterranean Sea (Last et al. 2016, Ebert and Dando 2021). The precise range of Speckled Skate is not entirely clear due to mis-identifications with Spotted Skate (Raja montagui) (Frodella et al. 2016, Ramírez-Amaro et al. 2020, Porcu et al. 2020).

There are no data available on the absolute global population size of the Speckled Skate, though it is considered moderately common in the Mediterranean Sea. Genetic analysis reveals a single population in the Mediterranean Sea with high connectivity across its range (Frodella et al. 2016). Population trend data are available from the Mediterranean Sea (MEDITS unpub. data). The trend data were analysed over three generation lengths using a Bayesian state-space framework (a modification of Sherley et al. 2020, Winker et al. 2020). This analysis yields an annual rate of change, a median change over three generation lengths, and the probability of the most likely IUCN Red List category percent change over three generations (see the Supplementary Information).

Data collected during the MEDiterranean International Trawl Survey (MEDITS) have generally been analysed and reported in a range of publications with differing spatial and temporal scales. The Speckled Skate data may be partly confounded with Spotted Skate (R. montagui) due to mis-identification issues. Population abundance for Speckled Skate has been reported as mainly highest in the Balaeric Islands where the population trend was stable from 2001–2015 (Ramírez-Amaro et al. 2020, Ferragut-Perello et al. 2022). In the central Aegean Sea, previous analyses indicated an increasing population from 1995–2000 (Damalas and Vassilopoulou 2011). It was noted previously that the species was the third most abundant skate in the south Ligurian and north Tyrrhenian Sea from 1985–2004 after Thornback Skate (R. clavata) and Brown Skate (R. miraletus). The trend analysis of the Mediterranean Sea modelled biomass for 1994–2021 (27 years) revealed annual rates of increase of 3.93% over the past three generation lengths (30 years), with the highest probability of no major reductions in population over the past three generation lengths.

The Speckled Skate is demersal on the continental shelf and slope at depths of 10–635 m, and possibly to 800 m depth (Relini et al. 2010, Last et al. 2016, Ebert and Dando 2021). It reaches a maximum size of 71 cm total length with males mature at 37–53 cm TL and females mature at 40–53 cm TL (Ungaro et al. 2015, Ebert and Dando 2021, Ferragut-Perello et al. 2022). Reproduction is oviparous and 20–62 egg cases are deposited annually with size-at-hatching of ~10–12 cm TL (Serena 2005, Ebert and Dando 2021). Female age-at-maturity is estimated as 6–7.5 years and maximum age for females estimated as 10.6–15.4 years (Porcu et al. 2020), resulting in a generation length of 10 years.

In the Mediterranean, the Speckled Skate has been subject to extensive fishing across much of the species' known depth and spatial distribution. The species is mainly caught incidentally with beam trawls, demersal trawl, trammel net, and gillnet gear and larger individuals are retained. Post-release survival is unknown but high for trawl-caught juveniles of the similar size and range Starry Skate (Raja asterias) (Catalano et al. 2021). Speckled Skate catch records from the MEDiterranean International Trawl Survey (MEDITS) indicate the species is most abundant in the Balaeric Islands (Geraci et al. 2021). Skates (Raja spp.) are the most fished elasmobranchs in parts of the Mediterranean Sea and neighbouring areas. For example, in the Gulf of Cádiz, skates represented up to 50% of regional landings (Biton-Porsmoguer and Lloret 2020).

The species is sold in local markets along African coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. As with many skates in the Mediterranean Sea, the flesh of the Speckled Skate is likely marketed for human consumption.

There are no species-specific conservation measures in place. There is a prohibition on trawling within three miles of the coast off Tuscany (Ligurian Sea) which may afford some protection for this species. To clarify the precise range of Speckled Skate within the Mediterranean, work is needed to improve identification of the species across its range and reduce mis-identification with Spotted Skate. Further research is needed on population size and trends, and life history, and catch rates should be monitored.