In 2001, a study on the fisheries regulatory framework of the Western Mediterranean coastal States was undertaken under the aegis of the COPEMED Project; as follow-up, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) commissioned a comparative study covering the entire Mediterranean basin that focused on three issues: (i) access regimes to fisheries resources; (ii) management of fishing effort and fishing capacity; and (iii) monitoring, control and surveillance. The purpose of this study is to provide fisheries managers with information on the principal measures adopted in the region to identify areas where harmonization should be sought, particularly in relation to shared stocks. This paper has been conceived as a working document for States to complete and build upon. Also published in Arabic and in French