RAPD ( random amplified polymorphic DNA ) was employed to detect the genet ic variat ion of Fenneropenaeus chinensis. Samples were collected from Liaodong Bay, Bohai Bay , Haizhou Bay, Rushan Bay and Haiyangdao) . Fourteen 10bp RAPD primers were used for DNA amplif icat ion and 19 samples of each stock were analysed. Totally 103 markers were detected in a range of 200- 2500bp. Percentage of polymorphic loci of each stock was from 31. 07% to 34. 95% and genetic diversity was from 0. 1056 to 0. 1192. Genetic distance between stocks was from 0. 0243 to 0. 0742 and the index of genetic diversity of the stock was 0. 2083, which indicated that stocks differentiated from each other genetically. Clustering of the stocks was analysed by UPGMA. The RAPD revealed that the overall genetic diversity of F . chinensis was low.