An investigation was conducted to determine limiting nutrients in the bay systems of the southern coastal area of Korea. The elemental composition of C, N, and P in suspended particulate matter was monitored nearly monthly in Chinhae and Koje Bays and seasonally in Deukryang Bay for 2 years. Atomic C:N ratio in particulate matter ranges from 4.3 to 9.6, typical of marine phytoplankton. C:P and N:P ratios vary from the Redfield ratio to 229 (C:P) and 37 (N:P). A constant C:N ratio of 6.87 from regression of particulate C and N concentrations demonstrates that the particulate matter in the systems originates from primary production. C:P and N:P ratios from regression of C on P and N on P are well associated with changes in salinity. The low N:P ratio of 13.1 implies N limitation in the environments of the systems. This seems to result from the low N:P ratio of nutrients released across sediment-water interface. Phytoplankton response, expressed here as the increase of chlorophyll a, to N addition also verifies N limitation for phytoplankton communities. In heavy rainfall season (from June to September), the addition of excessive N via streams into the stratified coastal water proliferates phytoplankton greatly. During the phytoplankton blooms, C:P and N:P ratios are much higher than the Redfield ratio, implying P limitation. This results from the high N:P ratio in nutrients supplied from stream waters. Strong stratification during the blooms also interrupts the supply of nutrients, particularly p, from bottom waters. Dependent upon precipitation, this tendency shows great inter-annual variation.