Abstract: Based on the water quality monitoring data in the spring of 2006, 2011 and 2014, this paper analysed the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of nutrient and eutrophication in Jiaojiang estuary in the past 10 years by applying the eutrophication index method, the organic pollution index method and the potential eutrophication assessment model. The analysis indicated that both DIN and DIP exceeded the forth standard of sea water quality, and it showed the heavily polluted seawater and the high eutrophication in the spring of the Jiaojiang estuary. In the past 10 years, the concentration of DIN and DIP and the eutrophication degree initially increased and dropped afterwards. Furthermore, horizontal distributions of concentrations of DIN and DIP, as well as E value and A value, in surface seawater of Jiaojiang estuary identified a decreasing trend from the estuary toward the open sea. Two main factors that influence DIN and DIP concentrations and the eutrophication degree in Jiaojiang estuary were the pollution flowed into the sea and the nearby large-scale ocean engineering.