The effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas for mobile species has been, and still is, questioned. For static management to be effective it must either protect a suitable critical life history stage or the species must demonstrate some level of fidelity to an area. Either of these scenarios require detailed knowledge of the species to determine if an MPA would be a suitable management strategy. This level of data is rarely available, especially in the marine environment. However, there are some species for which we are beginning to gather sufficient data, one of these is the Flapper skate (Dipturus intermedius). This species is currently the only UK elasmobranch to have an MPA as part of its management strategy; the Loch Sunart to the Sound of Jura MPA. In order to achieve this, this species and the MPA have been the focus of numerous studies, bringing together many stakeholders. This talk will give an overview of the research behind the designation of the MPA, and current research in the area, highlighting how research and management can work together.