Abstract
The potential capability to decompose macromolecular compounds was confirmed in heterotrophic bacteria isolated from two sandy beaches located on the southern Baltic coast. Proteolytic bacteria were the most numerous group, whereas lipolytic organisms were rare among bacteria inhabiting the studied beaches. All studied physiological groups of bacteria were considerably more numerous in the sand of the beach subject to stronger anthropopressure. The differences in bacteriological parameters across the horizontal profile of the beaches were noted. In both studied beaches a higher number of bacteria able to decompose macromolecular compounds were recorded in the surface as compared to the subsurface sand layer.