Abstract This preliminary study aimed to contribute to the knowledge on distribution, diversity, abundance and biomass of demersal fishes in the south-western Black Sea shelf. Samples were collected with bottom trawl net in November 2006 and October 2007. A total of eight hauls were conducted by R/V Yunus-S in the south-western Black Sea at the depths of 22 and 73 m. A total of 14,228 individuals (297.2 kg) belonging to 28 species were. Merlangius merlangus and Mullus barbatus were the main species in the whole catch, in terms of abundance and biomass.