Butyltin and phenyltin residues were quantified in seawater and biota of the Chinhae Bay System, Korea in 1995. Butyltin compounds were detected in all seawater and biota samples, whereas phenyltin compounds were found only in the biota samples. Tributyltin (TBT) concentrations in seawater ranged from < 8-35 ng Sn/l. Tributyltin concentrations in Crassostyea gigas and Thais clavigera ranged from 95-885 and 23-414 ng Sn/g, respectively, Triphenyltin(TPhT) concentrations in each species ranged 155-678 and 46-785 ng Sn/g, respectively. Spatial distribution of TBT was closely related to boating and dry-docking activities. However, spatial distribution of TPhT was not consistent with that of TBT. The biological concentration factor for TBT in C. gigas was about 25000 that is four times greater than that of T. clavigera. Butyl- to phenyltin concentration ratio was greater than one in C. gigas, but that in T. clavigera was less than one. Major tissues of C. gigas also showed different accumulation patterns for butyl- and phenyltin compounds. Furthermore, 19 and 28% of total body burdens of TBT and TPhT were found in gonadal mass of C. gigas just prior to spawning.