Smooth skate (Dipturus innominata, SSK), which are also known as barndoor skates, are fished commercially in close association with rough skates (RSK) in New Zealand. Smooth skates grow considerably larger than rough skates, but both species are landed and processed (Francis 1997). Two other species of deepwater skate (Bathyraja shuntovi and Raja hyperborea) are large enough to be of commercial interest but are relatively uncommon and probably comprise a negligible proportion of the landings (MPI 2011).

In lack of knowledge about the stock structure of New Zealand smooth skate, the species is managed according to the five fishstocks (and correspondent fishing management areas): RSK 1 Auckland East (FMA 1, 2); RSK 3 South East Coast, South East Chatham Rise, Sub-Antarctic, Southland (FMA 3, 4, 5, 6) here named as SE New Zealand; RSK 7 Challenger (FMA 7); and RSK 8 Central Egmont and Auckland West (FMA 8, 9) (MPI 2014).

New Zealand rough skate Zearaja nasuta and New Zealand smooth skate Dipturus innominatus are captured in the same multispecies fishery but managed separately (MPI 2014).