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Due to the diversity of fleet characteristics and catch composition in Mediterranean fisheries, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean has placed emphasis on the direct control of fishing capacity and effort rather than catch limitation. This paper aims to analyse the evolution of fishing effort, landings and métiers in three trawling ports of the western Mediterranean between 2002 and 2011. Four métiers were identified, using multivariate techniques, in the fishery: Red mullet, European hake, Norway lobster and Red shrimp. The mean catch composition within the same métier was similar between ports, although the relative importance of species differed slightly from one port to another. Variation in fishing effort exerted was observed between métiers reflecting differences in the importance and usage of each métier by port. Temporal variations were found among different métiers at seasonal and …