This paper brings together current knowledge on fish safety and quality issues. Topics discussed include: a summary of world fish production and consumption; developments in safety and quality systems and a review of public health hazards regarding fish and fish products; risk mitigation and management tools, including requirements for the implementation of the Good Hygienic and Manufacturing Practices (GHP/GMP) of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system, and of the monitoring programmes to control biotoxins, pathogenic bacteria and viruses, and chemical pollutants; the use of the HACCP approach to target other non-safety quality issues; predictive microbiology, traceability, and examples of food safety objectives.