Full Title Name:  Petition to List the Northwest Atlantic Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the Thorny Skate (Amblyraja radiata) as Endangered or Threatened or, alternatively, to List the United States DPS of the Thorny Skate as Endangered or Threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act

Summary: The Animal Welfare Institute and Defenders of Wildlife (Petitioners) hereby petition the Secretary of Commerce, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to list the Northwest Atlantic population of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) as an endangered or threatened Distinct Population Segment (DPS), pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (16 U.S.C. § 1531–44). In the alternative, Petitioners request NMFS to list a U.S. DPS of the thorny skate as a threatened or endangered species. In addition, Petitioners seek the designation of critical habitat concurrently with any listing of the thorny skate, as authorized by statute.