Cephalopods play an important role in the Adriatic marine ecosystems and in commercial fishing (primarily demersal). During MEDITS expeditions in the Adriatic, 32 species of cephalopods were recorded. Most cephalopods in the Adriatic are short-lived organisms whose biomass varies significantly depending on the intensity of recruitment, and it is closely related to hydrographic conditions in the sea (primarily temperature and salinity). Given the fact that cephalopods are an important part of commercial fishing, the intensity of fishing also has a significant impact on biomass. The most important species in the coastal part are Eledone moschata, Loligo vulgaris, Octopus vulgaris and Sepia officinalis. In the deeper parts of the Adriatic, the most common species are Eledone cirrhosa, Illex coindetti, Todarodes eblane. The main strategy of monitoring is to assess the environmental status of the most commercially important cephalopod species that are intensively exploited by fishery fleet in the Adriatic Sea. The assessment will be based on determination of the level of anthropogenic pressure, population density, demographic characteristics of the exploited populations, and distribution of the species in the Adriatic Sea. Monitoring of the main cephalopod species will be conducted through scientific research at sea (MEDITS) and monitoring of commercial demersal fishery through EU framework for the collection and management of fisheries data (DCF). Monitoring sampling scheme and processing of the biological data will be conduct in accordance to the sampling scheme already described for demersal species under Descriptor 3 (Commercial Fish and shellfish).

Cephalopods play an important role in the Adriatic marine ecosystems and in commercial fishing (primarily demersal). During MEDITS expeditions in the Adriatic, 32 species of cephalopods were recorded. Most cephalopods in the Adriatic are short-lived organisms whose biomass varies significantly depending on the intensity of recruitment, and it is closely related to hydrographic conditions in the sea (primarily temperature and salinity). Given the fact that cephalopods are an important part of commercial fishing, the intensity of fishing also has a significant impact on biomass. The most important species in the coastal part are Eledone moschata, Loligo vulgaris, Octopus vulgaris and Sepia officinalis. In the deeper parts of the Adriatic, the most common species are Eledone cirrhosa, Illex coindetti, Todarodes eblane. The main strategy of monitoring is to assess the environmental status of the most commercially important cephalopod species that are intensively exploited by fishery fleet in the Adriatic Sea. The assessment will be based on determination of the level of anthropogenic pressure, population density, demographic characteristics of the exploited populations, and distribution of the species in the Adriatic Sea. Monitoring of the main cephalopod species will be conducted through scientific research at sea (MEDITS) and monitoring of commercial demersal fishery through EU framework for the collection and management of fisheries data (DCF). Monitoring sampling scheme and processing of the biological data will be conduct in accordance to the sampling scheme already described for demersal species under Descriptor 3 (Commercial Fish and shellfish).

Cephalopods play an important role in the Adriatic marine ecosystems and in commercial fishing (primarily demersal). During MEDITS expeditions in the Adriatic, 32 species of cephalopods were recorded. Most cephalopods in the Adriatic are short-lived organisms whose biomass varies significantly depending on the intensity of recruitment, and it is closely related to hydrographic conditions in the sea (primarily temperature and salinity). Given the fact that cephalopods are an important part of commercial fishing, the intensity of fishing also has a significant impact on biomass. The most important species in the coastal part are Eledone moschata, Loligo vulgaris, Octopus vulgaris and Sepia officinalis. In the deeper parts of the Adriatic, the most common species are Eledone cirrhosa, Illex coindetti, Todarodes eblane. The main strategy of monitoring is to assess the environmental status of the most commercially important cephalopod species that are intensively exploited by fishery fleet in the Adriatic Sea. The assessment will be based on determination of the level of anthropogenic pressure, population density, demographic characteristics of the exploited populations, and distribution of the species in the Adriatic Sea. Monitoring of the main cephalopod species will be conducted through scientific research at sea (MEDITS) and monitoring of commercial demersal fishery through EU framework for the collection and management of fisheries data (DCF). Monitoring sampling scheme and processing of the biological data will be conduct in accordance to the sampling scheme already described for demersal species under Descriptor 3 (Commercial Fish and shellfish).