p. 47 - 61 PARTICULATE ORGANIC CARBON AND THE VERTICAL LIGHT TRANSMISSON IN THE ROMANIAN INSHORE EUTROPHIC WATERS Pia Elena Mihnea Romanian Marine Research Institute Constanta Abstract The paper is dealing with the interrelation between phytoplanktonic community and vertical light transmision in a marine eutrophicated area. Monthly observations from April to October 1984 on the 5, 10 and 20 m contour line at agreed depth have been performed along the Romanian marine inshore waters. It was concluded that the vertical light transmission was mainly dependent on the particulate organic carbon than the suspended matter, The 50 to 1% isolumes were related to the stage of the phytoplanktonic species succesion: the heavy bloom that occured in April and May have implied big biomasses: 143.4-1,144.4 mg C m-3. These biomasses have reduced the mean depth of the 50 to 1% isolumes at 3 to 4.5 m. The smaller biomasses in June (3.0-209.7 mg m-3) have enlarged the 1% isolume mean depth: 5-20 m. The great quantities of the suspended matter (200 mg 1-1)but reduced quantities of particulate organic carbon (12.8-20.1 mg C m-3) could not determine the depth limitation of the euphoric layer (10.5 m). In an eutrophicated marine environment the vertical light transmission is related to the distance, flux and rates of the waste waters outfalls and finally to their eutrophication effects on the sea water.