Vertical profiles of chl-a and primary productivity in the middle continental shelf area and eddy area of the East China Sea were studied using data from a cruise in the East China Sea in February to March, 1997 and a cruise in July, 1998. The results showed that chl-a vertical distribution closely related to in situ hydrological and nutrient conditions. Chla-a concentration ranged from 0.22 to 0.35 mg/m3 and 0.93-1.09 mg/m3 in the eddy area and in the middle continental shelf area, respectively. In both areas, chl-a concentrations in deep layers were slightly higher than those in shallow layers, but was of the same order of magnitude. In summer, when a thermocline existed in the water column, highest chl-a concentrations appeared at the base of the thermocline layers in both areas. In the eddy area, chl-a concentration maximized at 3l.743 mg/m3, and averaged l.143 mg/m3 below 30 m depth. In the middle continental shelf area, the highest chl-a concentration was 2.120 mg/m3, the average was 1.168 mg/m3. The primary productivity reached 1418.76 mgC/(m2*d) in summer and 1360.69 mgC/(m2*d) in winter. In the eddy area, the primary productivity was 787.50 mgC/(m2*d) in summer and 159.04 mgC/(m2*d) in winter. Vertical carbon sinking rate from the deep layer to the bottom in both areas is also discussed in this paper.