The qualitative and quantitative composition of the phytoplankton of the coastal waters off Vladivostok during the period 1991-1994 was studied. The following trends in the phytoplankton composition with decreasing distance from the source of eutrophication were revealed: 1) total density and bio-mass increased; 2) the density of the diatom Skeletonema costatum, which reflects a decrease in the Shannon-Weaver species diversity index during the summer microalgal bloom, increased significantly; and 3) the density of the non-diatom component of the phytoplankton increased.