Abstract: Four kinds of shellfish from the east coast of Jiangsu province were collected to research the dynamic changes of taurine in the shellfish flesh,in order to investigate the appropriate harvest times. To determine the content of taurine,a method of HPLC- UV combined with opthaldialdehyde was established,and the samples extracted by 70% alcohol were separated by a Kromasil 50 mm × 2.1mm C18 column with the column temperature of40℃.The mobile phase was composed of 23% methanol and 77% 0.05 mol / L sodium acetate( p H6.0) at the flow rate of 0.3m L / min with gradient elution.The UV detection wavelength was 330 nm.This method,with high sensitivity,good reproducibility,could accurately determine the content of taurine in four shellfish. Generally,the growth of shellfish had an obvious seasonal characteristic and its growth faster in spring and summer than autumn and winter,especially when water temperature was 25 to 28℃ in summer- the rapid growth period. During the period,the content of taurine reached its peak.Moreover,the content of taurine of Ruditapes philippinarum reached highest was July,with 42.79 mg / g. Meretrix meretrix Linnaeus,Cyclina sinensis,Mactra veneriformis Reeve was in June,when the content of taurine was up to 27.48,16.59,15.00 mg / g,respectively.In combination production with content changes of effective constituent- taurine,the best harvest time of Ruditapes philippinarum was recommended in July,with Meretrix meretrix Linnaeus,Cyclina sinensis,Mactra veneriformis Reeve was in June.