Beyond 'Trawler' in the Adriatic Sea: Reconstructing Eight Years of Fishing Pressure by Distinct Trawling Strategies

Abstract. Trawling fisheries in the Adriatic Sea are among the most spatially intensive fishing activities in the Mediterranean, with significant implications for marine ecosystems and resource management. Understanding their spatiotemporal dynamics is essential for informing sustainable fisheries management and mitigating ecosystem impacts. We present an 8-year (2015–2022) high-resolution (0.01° × 0.01°) dataset of monthly trawling effort indicators reconstructed from Automatic Identification System (AIS) data across Geographical Sub-Areas (GSAs) 17 and 18. A key novelty of this dataset is the explicit classification of the three main trawling strategies – bottom, pelagic, and beam trawling. Reconstructed from 858 fishing vessels identified as performing trawling during the study period, the dataset includes detailed information on fishing hours, fishing days, vessel counts, gear type, and departure/destination GSAs, harmonised and disaggregated by country and trawling method. This harmonised and disaggregated dataset enables high-resolution assessment of fleet dynamics, fishing intensity, and spatial footprint. The novel reconstructed trawling-effort dataset is publicly available at: https://doi.org/10.17882/114473 and represents a valuable tool for researchers, fisheries managers, and policymakers. It directly supports Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management (EBFM) and the revision of existing management plans in line with General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) recommendations.