Exploitation patterns of the cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis (Cephalopoda, Sepiidae), in the Mediterranean Sea

Exploitation patterns of the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis in the Mediterranean Sea were studied by investigating the fishing activity in three ports located in the Catalan (Spain), Ligurian (Italy) and Thracian (Greece) Seas. Monthly collection of data on commercial landings, fishing effort and demographic structure of the catches of S. officinalis was undertaken between July 1998 and June 1999. S. officinalis was exploited simultaneously or sequentially by different gears, whose importance changed in each port. Bottom trawling accounted for the majority of the landings at all ports, followed by the medium size trammel nets. Traps played an important role in the cuttlefish landings in the Catalan Sea, while beach seines and small size trammel nets contributed to a minor part of the landings of Kavala and Livorno, respectively. A marked seasonality in the landings of different gears was observed. Trammel net and trap landings comprised mostly adult specimens of large size, while trawl and beach seine catches also contained small individuals.