Аннотация:The chapter provides a brief overview of satellite instrumentation, techniques and methods for monitoring of seawater quality (oil pollution, suspended matter, and algae bloom). Monitoring of oil pollution from space is usually carried out using the Synthetic Aperture Radar remote sensing systems, but under certain conditions, for example, in the zone of the sunglint, optical imagery is also very effective. Ocean color sensors are unique instrumentation for detection and monitoring of suspended matter (turbid waters) and chlorophyll-a (algae bloom) concentrations in the surface layer of the ocean. As any remote, in-situ or laboratory method, the ocean color sensors have a set of advantages (multispectral approach, high spectral resolution, high spatial resolution, etc.) as well as disadvantages which include dependence on the sunlight (there are no optical imagery during the night and Polar night) and clouds, dependence of the swath and repetition period on the spatial resolution of the sensor, etc. Application of the optical satellite remote sensing systems is illustrated by several examples of oil spill detection, turbid waters, and algal bloom in different parts of the World Ocean and inland seas. Natural processes like wind-wave mixing in the coastal zone, river runoff, runoff from shallow lagoons, and algae bloom, as well as anthropogenic impact related to offshore and coastal mining, construction of ports and fairways, laying of underwater pipelines and cables, significantly impact seawater quality in the coastal zone of the oceans and inland seas.