In this study, two series of experiments were conducted in a laboratory to estimate the stress tolerance of germlings of a brown alga S. fusiforme when exposed to low salinity or high turbidity frequently occurred after heavy rainfall. Results from culture experiments using microplate showed that the growth of germlings was significantly affected (P < 0.05) by daily salinity change according to duration of stress exposure. The lowest specific growth rate (%/day) of germlings was 1.1% at 17 psu for 6 h exposure. Survival of germlings was more tolerant compared to the influence to that for growth. To test turbidity tolerance, the growth and survival of germlings reduced by increasing turbidity levels. In comparison with other treatments, high mortality was recorded when germlings were exposed to high turbidity stress of 700 NTU. The only treatment of 100 NTU combined with 2 h exposure, had a specific growth rate of over 2% whereas others were below 1%. Germlings had the lowest growth at about 0.2% when exposed daily at 700 NTU for 6 h.