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Two trawl surveys were carried out in the summer months (June-July) of 1996 and 1997 along the whole South Adriatic area (Mediterranean sea) for the first time, using the same vessel and the same sampling gear (European Community Research Project 'MEDITS'); previous research data referred only to the south-western Adriatic side. A total list of 168 demersal species (fishes, cephalopods and crustaceans) was obtained during the surveys; species abundance data (individuals/trawling hour) were processed according to multivariate techniques in order to describe the composition and the distribution of the main species assemblages within the investigated area (10-800-m bathymetric range). Multivariate analysis of MEDITS survey catch data showed a strong relationship between fish assemblages and depth, while the influence of depth was lower with respect to cephalopod and especially crustacean assemblage distribution. © Ifremer/Cnrs/Inra/Ird/Cemagref/Elsevier, Paris