In order to understand the distribution and pathogenicity of vibrio in the coastal areas of China a study consisted of 51 water samples and foodstuff from 10 different areas in 5 provinces was conducted microbiologically and etiologically. Results showed that 45 pathogenic vibrio were identified, with majority of A. caviae (26.7%), V. alginolyticus (22.2%) and V. parahaemolyticus (11.1%), same kinds of vibrio found in feces from patients with acute infectious diarrhea. Prevalence rates of pathogenic vibrio identified from the East China Sea, the South China Sea and the Yellow Sea were between 66%-77%. The detection rate of pathogenic vibrio in 29 water samples was 93.1% (27/29) with 38 strains isolated mainly in river water (57.8%), followed by in sea water (21.1%) and pool water (21.1%). The results revealed that the distribution of pathogenic vibrio in different waters was closely related to its pathogenecity, providing evidence that vibrio diarrhea be supervised, diagnosed and treated in order to decrease the incidence of the disease.