Abstract.Seasonal changes in phytoplankton species composition and abundance were studied in the Rias de Arosa and Muros (NW Spain) in November 1975, April and August 1976. Data on density and percentage contribution of species were used to calculate spatial and temporal relationships of phytoplankton communities by affinity matrices. The phytoplankton communities of both rias differed in species composition and abundance during the three sampling seasons. Diatoms dominated and total abundance was always higher in Arosa. Both rias have upwelling of nutrient‐rich oceanic water but the Arosa has an intense raft aquaculture of the edible musselMytilus eduli