Quantitative studies on marine Phycomycetes (thraustochytrids) were carried out at 6 stations between the Fladenground area of the North Sea and the mouth of the River Tay, between September 1975 and September 1976. Five samplings were made of the surface water and the sediment during this period. The number of fungi/litre sea water or sediment increased with the proximity to the mouth of the river compared to the high seas. The fungal population exhibited a seasonal fluctuation, a high number occurring in September and an extremely low number occurring in March. The sediments revealed a very high number of propagules/litre (up to 73,000) compared to the water (up to 384).