Abstract: Abstract:An integrated methodology based on the Pressure-State-Response framework was developed to assess the estuarine and coastal trophic status in China. The contemporary conceptual model of coastal eutrophication was analyzed, and the index of anthropogenic influence (A) and the stratification parameter (ΔSA/SA) characterizing the filter role of estuarine and coastal systems were introduced to Pressure. For State, high performance indicators including surface concentration of chlorophyll a (ρ(Chla)), phytoplankton cell density (d), bottom water dissolved oxygen concentration (ρ(DO)), benthic organism individual abundance (a), and red tide index (RT) were screened from the negative effects of eutrophication. For Response, annual rate of change of nutrient flux in the future (v) was selected. The levels of the indicators were applied after consideration of domestic and overseas standards, and the PSR components were aggregated to produce an overall grade. The results of application and validation of the methodology in the Jiulongjiang Estuary showed that the overall grade was poor in 2010, though the grades were better in the north than in the south of the estuary. This result accurately reflected the anthropogenic pressure. Comparison of the environmental factors using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test showed significant differences (p<0.05) between the two grades for ρ(COD), ρ(DIN), ρ(TN), ρ(DSi) and ρ(SPM), identifying the main environmental factors other than the selected indicators. The difference between two grades for ρ(TP) and ρ(DIP) was not significant (p>0.05) as a result of the phosphate buffer mechanism. Compared with Phase Ⅰ, the new method emphasizes the evaluation of symptoms and has the advantage of clearly identifying whether or not trophic status has deteriorated.