We studied the summer spatial distribution of the copepod community in both the neritic and oceanic areas of the Gulf of Gabe`s (Tunisia, eastern Mediterranean Sea) coupled with environmental factors. Copepods were the most abundant zooplankton throughout the sampling period, contributing 78% of the total zooplankton. A total of 14 copepod families were identified in all stations, with an overwhelming abundance of Acartiidae and Oithonidae (39.05 and 39.09% of total abundance, respectively). Abundance of Acartia clausi and chlorophyll-a concentrations were negatively correlated with salinity, suggesting that this species probably escaped the high coastal salinity (38 psu). Significant correlation determined between A. clausi and tintinnids at 50 m isobaths indicates that these planktonic ciliates probably served as a substantial food link towards higher trophic levels of this area. Conversely, Oithona nana which was well adapted to high chlorophyll-a concentrations and high salinity along the coast, showed significant correlations with Dictyochophyceae, Dinophyceae, Bacillariophyceae and Euglenophyceae, suggesting that this small copepod was capable of feeding on a wide selection of phytoplankton preys.