So what exactly is a flapper skate, and why would anyone willingly dive in Scotland’s icy waters in search of it? Scotland isn’t exactly on the radar as a go-to, must-see dive destination per se. But as we’ve discovered on this expedition, the most unassuming places often hold the ocean’s most precious treasures. These rarities may be overlooked in favour of more charismatic species or photogenic ecosystems, but here in Scotland, we stumbled upon one of the ocean’s lesser-known heroes — the critically endangered flapper skate.

Scotland’s marine life often conjures images of basking sharks, the second-largest fish in the sea and one on the  bucket-list for many divers. With their iconic gaping mouths and gentle demeanour, they steal the spotlight as they glide through plankton-rich waters. Divers come from far and wide to Scotland and Ireland for a chance to see these magnificent sharks in the wild. But in their shadow lies the flapper skate, a cartilaginous fish related to sharks. Elusive and hardly seen with the exception of fisherfolk out to sea all the time, it’s a species that deserves far more attention than it receives. We’re talking about a species that is at more risk than the giant panda yet virtually unknown to most people. With all this being said, Scotland had become an immediate ‘yes’ from me, and so it planted solidly onto our expedition trail. 

Our journey brought us to the Kilchoan Melfort Trust (KMT), a conservation-focused estate on Scotland’s rugged west coast. KMT’s mission centres on restoring habitats to promote biodiversity, as well as balancing rewilding efforts with sustainable land management. Among its many projects, KMT is working to protect the flapper skate, which has a stronghold in these waters. Their property has become a crucial site for flapper skate conservation, with significant numbers of their leather-like egg cases — often called ‘mermaid purses’ — discovered in the area. These egg cases are fascinating objects, roughly the size of a football (an American one), rectangular with horn-like protrusions at each corner, and they are vital clues to the survival of one of the world’s largest and most endangered skates.

At the heart of KMT’s skate conservation efforts are three passionate individuals — Lauren Smith, Chris Rickard, and Marnik van Cauter — each bringing a unique perspective to the fight for Scotland’s skates. Spending time with this trio was nothing short of entertainment. Equal parts science and comedy, they turned every moment into a blend of humour and borderline obsession for the work at hand. I’ll never forget laughing so hard on the small boat that I almost fell overboard—a balance of lightheartedness and dedication that you don’t often see when conducting science, around skate eggs, about to plunge into freezing cold water on a weekend.

Marnik, KMT’s Marine Asset Manager, expertly captained the boat as Chris, co-founder of the nonprofit Shark & Skate Scotland, and I readied ourselves for the dive. Lauren, the organisation’s other co-founder, stayed back onshore, managing the team’s logistics and preparing for what would come next. Together, this trio has been working to unravel the mysteries of the flapper skate’s life cycle. The mission for our dives was a straightforward one: to tally the number of egg cases in high-density areas. But the implications of it were much more significant. Knowing when these purses were laid, how long they take to hatch, and where the skates move throughout their lifecycle is vital to closing critical knowledge gaps and informing conservation strategies. On one of our dives, we counted more than 40 purses — a record number for the KMT property and a milestone for their research. Being part of this moment was an honour.

As we made our way back to shore, we couldn’t contain our excitement, cheering over the incredible discovery. For the team, this finding was just the beginning, a sign that more research was needed at these sites to unlock the secrets of this elusive species. While spotting a flapper skate in the wild is an almost impossible encounter, Lauren vividly remembers her first sighting in Ullapool, Scotland, which just so happened to be on Christmas Eve with a flapper skate washed up on shore. “It was such a magnificent animal,” she shared. “I couldn’t believe how little was known about it.” That moment sparked her mission to raise awareness and champion protection for these critically endangered creatures.

For Chris, his journey began with a similar realisation, that much of what we know about skates is fragmented. He recognised that a wealth of ‘grey data’ — public sightings, bycatch records, and anecdotal reports — was being ignored. Motivated by this gap, he and Lauren launched Shark & Skate Scotland as a grassroots effort to consolidate these insights and build a clearer picture of Scotland’s skate populations. And in just three years, they’ve grown an online community of over 1,000 members on Facebook, with plans to expand into a dedicated website and comprehensive database. By encouraging anglers, beachcombers, and the general public to report sightings, whether dead or alive, they hope to identify and protect critical habitats — particularly the egg-laying sites that are vital to the species’ future.

The flapper skate’s biology adds urgency to their work. As the world’s largest skate, flappers lay one or two eggs in their collagen-based mermaid purses at a time, based on the latest research using ultrasound on pregnant females. This is estimated at around 80 a year, but it’s important to note that this is not 100% known or confirmed. These eggs take up to 18 months to hatch and are often deposited in carefully chosen substrates, typically between boulders or rocks, where they won’t easily get washed away. But despite their durability, these egg cases — and the juveniles they hold — face threats from predators like crabs and starfish, as well as human activities like trawling and dredging. The eggs’ vulnerability, combined with the species’ slow growth and long reproductive cycles, puts every stage of the flapper skate’s life at risk.

Lauren and Chris explained that Scotland is home to seven skate species, including the flapper, blue, blonde, thornback, cuckoo, spotted and starry. Each species has its own unique egg case design, but the flapper skate’s egg-laying behaviour stands out for its selectiveness. In fact, only three major egg-laying sites have been identified: Red Rocks, Loch Eriboll and right here at Loch Melfort at the estate. 

Red Rocks, which was designated a Marine Protected Area (MPA) after Chris discovered a record 40+ eggs on the seabed. An expedition was prompted after a scallop diver found one egg, and Chris urged a larger team to go up and explore the region to see what else sat beneath the surface here. The wider area, now known as the Red Rocks and Longay MPA, has since been found to have over 1,000 purses by further diving and ROV exploration by NatureScot, proving the importance of identifying these sites. 

Loch Melfort is said to hold fewer purses but offers a promising location for research into flapper skate behaviour, and was certainly proved to be an exciting site given the sheer amount we were able to find! Chris and Lauren, in collaboration with Aberdeen University and NatureScot, are conducting monthly surveys at these sites to uncover more about the species’ reproductive habits and habitat preferences.

There are still plenty of hurdles to overcome though for the trust. MPAs, though a step in the right direction, are often poorly enforced due to limited resources, funding or time. Climate change further complicates conservation, as shifting water temperatures and habitats disrupt the skate’s already-condensed range. Lauren noted that these changes can render existing baseline data obsolete, making long-term protection difficult. She remains optimistic, emphasising the importance of engaging local communities, anglers, and citizen scientists in the effort. “The more people know and care about these species, the better chance they have for survival,” she said.

Lauren’s career journey — from her marine biology studies and PhD on shark migration at Aberdeen University to field research in the Bahamas and South Africa — has come full circle for her, bringing her all the way back to Scotland. Her fieldwork has ranged from studying lemon sharks to conducting necropsies on washed-up flapper skates, including that one fateful Christmas Eve encounter that solidified her commitment to the species and charted her life’s course. 

Chris, a former primary teacher with nearly a decade of experience, discovered his passion for marine conservation through a growing interest in Scotland’s elasmobranchs. Using his teaching skills to engage the public and social media platforms to reach diverse audiences, Chris has become a powerful advocate for skates and sharks. Together, they bridge the gap between academic science and public engagement, ensuring that the plight of the flapper skate doesn’t go unnoticed, all while diving together to uncover the mysteries of this lesser-known species. 

Ultimately, their goal is to make Shark & Skate Scotland the go-to resource for skate and shark sightings in the region. By building a robust database, raising awareness, and working alongside well-established organisations like the Shark Trust, NatureScot, and Aberdeen University, they hope to create a brighter future for Scotland’s flapper skates. As Chris put it: “We want people to see how interconnected everything is. Nothing happens in isolation. If we protect the flapper skate, we’re protecting an entire ecosystem — and that benefits us all.”

The flapper skate may not have the fame of the basking shark or the allure of the likes of the warmer water manta rays, but its story is no less extraordinary. In the icy waters of Scotland, this critically endangered species serves as a symbol of resilience and a heavy call to action for us on land. Our dives were a tiny glimpse into this fragile world that’s survival depends on collective care and understanding. 

From the dedicated work of Shark & Skate Scotland to the conservation efforts at KMT, the flapper skate reminds us of the interconnectedness of a world that still remains shrouded in mystery, despite sitting right at our doorstep. If we can rally around this elusive and ancient creature, we can inspire broader change for the ocean and its inhabitants, ensuring that the treasures of Scotland’s seas endure now and in the future.