The structuration between nearshore and offshore waters along the macrotidal French Eastern Channel coast is demonstrated by longitudinal and vertical continuous recordings of salinity, temperature, turbidity and fluorimetry. The distribution of suspended particulate matter, one dissolved marker ( super(125)Sb) and particulate markers (such as diatoms) indicates the variability of the waters from coast to open sea. Semidiurnal and semilunar tidal cycles induce the birth and the evolution of frontal structures along shore-lines with or without estuaries. The hydrodynamic consequences for suspended matter fluxes are presented.