Picture plea over at-risk fish

Anglers are being urged to help save a critically endangered fish by taking photographs of any caught.

The common skate – which can grow to more than 2m in length and weigh more than 90kg – is at greater risk of extinction than the giant panda.

People are being encouraged to send any photographs to Skatespotter, a new online catalogue.

The project aims to help conserve the diamond-shaped species through identifying individual fish by the distinctive spot patterns on their backs and studying their movements.

Dr Jane Dodd, marine operations officer at Scottish Natural Heritage, said: “We’re launching Skatespotter with more than 1,500 images of nearly 800 individual flapper skate, taken by volunteer anglers in the Loch Sunart to the Sound of Jura Marine Protected Area (MPA).”