This paper studies the vertical distribution of apparent oxygen utilization in nearshore water off Southern and Central Fujian.The characteristics of AOU vertical distribution in summer in the area under consideration are that the AOU has its low value in the upper layer and high one in the lower layer, and that negative values of surface AOU are found at half of the stations.AOU minimals at stations Id and Ic off central Fujian come from high-rate photosynthesis of phytopankton and the lower utilization of oxygen with the increase of temperature. The oxygen is mainly produced by photosynthesis rather than by some other processes above 10 meter water at stations Id and Ic. This paper studies the vertical distribution of apparent oxygen utilization in nearshore water off Southern and Central Fujian.The characteristics of AOU vertical distribution in summer in the area under consideration are that the AOU has its low value in the upper layer and high one in the lower layer, and that negative values ​​of surface AOU are found at half of the stations. AOU minimals at stations Id and Ic off central Fujian come from high-rate photosynthesis of phytopankton and the lower utilization of oxygen with the increase of temperature. The oxygen is mainly produced by photosynthesis rather than by some other processes above 10 meter water at stations Id and Ic.