Age and growth of big skate (Raja binoculata) and longnose skate (Raja rhina) in British Columbia waters

Age and growth estimates were determined for big skate (Raja binoculata) and longnose skate (Raja rhina) from British Columbia waters. Vertebrae (centra) were collected from 242 big skate and 174 longnose skate, ranging in length from 166 to 2039 mm, and 186 to 1246 mm, respectively. Male and female big skates ranged in age from 0 to 25 and 0 to 26 years, and male and female longnose skates ranged from 0 to 23 and 0 to 26 years, respectively. These ages are much older than those previously reported. Logistic and von Bertalanffy growth models were developed for males and females of both species. The growth curves were similar to previous estimates for both big and longnose skate for the range of sizes and ages that were previously available. However, because of the broader ranges presented in this paper, the growth curve estimates provided here are larger and older theoretical maximum sizes and ages. The data provided here are the only published estimates of size and age at 50% maturity for both species.