The common cuttlefish is a large species and can attain a maximum mantle length of 490 mm and body weight of 2 kg in temperate waters, and 300 mm and 2 kg in subtropical regions. Spawning occurs in shallow, inshore waters in April to July in the Mediterranean.

This species is fished intensively in the Mediterranean Sea and is a commercially important species in many countries counting up to 10% of the total catch. Due to increased fishing pressure, destruction of shallow habitats used in the spawning period the species has showed a steady decrease and it may be near its sustainable limit in the Mediterranean (Reid et al. 2005).

The project will consist in collecting the cuttlefish eggs and storing them in protected areas and/or environments in order to secure a high degree of survival of the hatchlings.
The activities of experimental restocking of Sepia officinalis will be carried out from March to July 2015 during the fishing season of cuttlefish with static gears while the collection of eggs with traps will be implemented from April to July 2015.
The project will consist in the following activities:
?The recovery of cuttlefish eggs laid on fishing gear to pledge eggs hatch and reduce mortality causes;
?The storage of eggs in safe environment, in the lagoon or in the sea to promote the hatching;
?Restocking with young cuttlefish obtained in safe environment;
?The improvement of cuttlefish production in lagoon with the outlook to develop an alternative to trawling;
?Support the restocking of Sepia officinalis in Velipoja/Viluni lagoon since it is recording a gradual reduction of the resource in recent years.