Chondroitin sulfates isolated from cartilage of five marine fish species: Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), blackmouth catshark (Galeus melas tomus), birdbeak dogfish (Deania calcea), and Arctic skate (Amblyraja hyperborea), were char acterized in detail by 1 H and 13 C NMR spectroscopy. The complete signal assignments for carbohydrates were made and the relative contents of the key structural units were estimated by 2D homonuclear and heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy (COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, HSQC, and HMBC). The average length of the polysaccharide chain was evaluated from the integrated intensity ratio of the terminal and internal monosaccharide residues. The anti inflammatory and anticoagulant activities of the specimens were studied. Chondroitin sulfates from salmon and Arctic skate exhibit considerable anti inflammatory activity. All specimens manifest weak anticoagulant activity. The results of the present study indicate that chondroitin sulfates deserve more detailed investigation as potential anti inflammatory agents.