Abstract Vibrio ( Listonella ) anguillarum is a marine bacteria that is pathogenic to a number of aquatic organisms including several species which are important to the aquaculture industry. Organisms that are infected by V. anguillarum are diagnosed with vibriosis which can be lethal in a matter of days. Vibriosis can be particularly devastating to aquaculture businesses and measures of prevention or treatment are generally quite expensive. Efforts to understand and control V. anguillarum virulence have been of high‐priority among international aquatic research studies. The knowledge that has accumulated as a result of this collective research effort is reviewed in this article.