Once a common species around the Welsh coasts, the 'Common' skate has been in severe decline for many decades and is now considered to be an extremely rare fish in Welsh waters and very scarce elsewhere.

Common skate eggcases are large (hand-sized) and any records of them either in-situ underwater or of the empty eggcase (known as a 'mermaid's purse') washed up on shore are very important.