The Vibrionaceae are environmentally ubiquitous to estuarine waters. Two species in particular, V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus, are important human pathogens that are transmitted by the consumption of contaminated molluscan shellfish. This document provides a comprehensive review of the current state of knowledge about these important foodborne disease agents. Topics include the epidemiology of human disease; biotypes and virulence factors; cultural and molecular‐based detection methods; phenotyping and genotyping approaches; microbial ecology; and candidate control strategies. Recent international risk assessment efforts are also described. The reader will gain an understanding of why these organisms pose a public health risk and how improving our understanding of their behavior in the environment and the host can aid in reducing that risk in the future.