Age, growth, maturity and extinction risk of an exploited and endangered skate, <scp> <i>Atlantoraja castelnaui</i> </scp> , from off Uruguay and northern Argentina

The spotback skate Atlantoraja castelnaui (Arhynchobatidae) is a large and threatened species subjected to fishing pressure, endemic the Southwest Atlantic that occurs from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, San Jorge Gulf, Argentina. age, growth, age at maturity maximum intrinsic rate of population increase rmax A. were studied using 152 specimens collected off Uruguay north Argentina (35°–42° S), between June 2013 February 2020. Vertebrae 143 individuals used for ageing (females: n = 83, size range 404–1300 mm total length, TL; males: 60, 400–1270 TL). Maximum ages determined females males 30 28 years, respectively. To fit growth models, non-linear Bayesian estimation approaches considered. For first approach, set four candidate (size-at-age) models fitted: three-parameter von Bertalanffy, two-parameter Bertalanffy with fixed L0, Gompertz Logistic. In second Logistic fitted. estimation, model selection indicated entire supported by data. was selected as best estimation. There no differences in sexes. sexes combined, method considered most adequate describe (growth mean parameters ± S.D.: L? 1210.29 40.68 mm; k 0.12 0.01 years?1; L0 179.20 11.62 mm). estimated 16.21 14.04 years males, 0.252 years?1. Life-history traits provided present study suggest this has relatively low productivity may be vulnerable an intense pressure.