Antibiotic resistance of heterotrophic bacteria isolated from the surface and subsurface water of estuarine lake Gardno was determined. The levels of resistance of bacteria to various antibiotics differed considerably. Antibiotic resistance between neustonic and planktonic bacteria and microflora inhabiting different parts of lake Gardno was nearly identical. Besides gentamycin, no differences in the antibiotic resistance between pigmented and non-pigmented bacteria were noted. Majorities of bacterial strains were characterised by resistance to 4-6 antibiotics. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics was dependent on chemical structure.