In order to study the effects of nutrient limitation on growth of Chattonella marina, five sets of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) co-limitation (N: 5-500μg•L-1, P: 0.74-74μg•L-1), N∶P=15) and nine sets of N or P limitation (P:74μg•L-1, N:500-5μg•L-1 or N: 500μg•L-1, P: 74-0.74μg•L-1) experiments were conducted under laboratory conditions. Results showed that growth rate of C. marina was maximum (0.788/d) in high N and P concentrations (N: 500μg•L-1, P: 74μg•L-1). The growth rate was significantly reduced when N and P concentrations were 100μg•L-1 and 15μg•L-1 respectively; however further reduction of N and P did not significantly reduce the growth of C. marina. P did not influence the growth significantly, while N limited the growth of C. marina evidently. The special growth rate and maximum cell density were obviously lower in N limitation experiments than that of P limitation experiments. The results suggested that C. marina was sensitive to N limitation. Nitrogen loading to coastal waters has increased over recent decades, which might contribute to the frequent occurrence of the C. marina blooms in Chinese coastal waters recently.