To uncover the adaptation mechanisms of photosystems for halotolerance, changes in stoichiometry and activity of photosystems in response to changes of salinities were examined in a halotolerant cyanobacterium, Aphanothece halophytica. Photosynthetic O2 evolution was high even at high salinities. O2 evolution activity increased with increasing external concentration of NaCl, reached a maximum at 1.5 M NaCl, and then decreased. Similar salt dependence was observed for photosystem II activity. On the other hand, photosystem I activity increased concomitantly with increase in salinity. Photoacoustic measurements indicated that appreciable energy storage by photosystem I mediated cyclic electron flow at high salinities. Significant electron donation to photosystem I reaction centres through NAD(P)H-dehydrogenase complexes was observed in high salt media. The contents of cytochrome b6/f and photosystem II were almost constant under various salinity conditions, whereas the levels of chlorophyll α, photosystem I, soluble cytochrome c-553, and NAD(P)H-dehydrogenase increased in the cells grown with high salinities. These results indicate that salt specifically induces an increase of protein levels involving cyclic electron flow around photosystem I that may entail an important role for adaptation of Aphanothece halophytica cells to high salinities.