Fluctuations of landings and environmental conditions in the north-westernMediterranean Sea

Most of the monthly catches and CPUE of 13 studied commercial species in th e coastal waters of the north-western Mediterranean were significantly posi tively correlated with run-off of local rivers (Rhone and Muga) and the win d mixing index during the spawning season, with time lags of less than a ye ar (transfer function analyses). Rhone and Ebre interannual fluctuations in run-off were synchronous and were related to the North Atlantic Oscillatio n (NAO), river run-offs being negatively correlated to high NAO episodes. T he fluctuations of river discharges and the wind mixing index were cyclic b ut not related. The results showed that enhanced hydroclimatic conditions i n the NW Mediterranean were favourable for the productivity of the fish and invertebrate stocks, and suggest the presence of linkage between recruitme nt of Mediterranean species and local (river discharges, wind conditions) a nd global (NAO) environmental conditions.