Fish and fishery products (FFP) are highly perishable due to their high nutritional value and moisture content. The spoilage is mainly caused by microorganisms and chemical reactions, especially lipid oxidation, leading to losses in quality and market value. Microbiological and lipid deteriorations of fishery‐derived products directly lower their nutritive value and pose the risk of toxicity for human health. Increasing demand for safe FFP brings about the preservation using additives from natural origins without chemical additives due to their safety and strict regulation. Antimicrobials and antioxidants from natural sources have exhibited an excellent control over the growth of microorganisms causing fish spoilage via different mechanisms. They also play a major role in retarding lipid oxidation by acting at various stages of oxidation. Antimicrobials and antioxidants from natural sources are usually regarded as safe with no detrimental effects on the quality attributes of FFP. This review provides recent literature on the different antioxidant and antimicrobial agents from natural sources, focusing on microbial and oxidative spoilage mechanisms, their inhibition system, and their applications to retard spoilage, maintain safety, and extend the shelf life of FFP. Their applications and benefits have been revisited.

Microbial metabolites have proven effects to inhibit food spoilage microbiota, without any development of antimicrobial resistance. This review provides a recent literature update on the preservative action of metabolites derived from microorganisms on seafood. Fish and fishery products are regarded as a myriad of nutrition, while being highly prone to spoilage. Several proven controversies (antimicrobial resistance and health issues) related to the use of synthetic preservatives have caused an imminent problem. The demand for minimally processed and naturally preserved clean-label fish and fishery products is on rise. Metabolites derived from microorganisms have exhibited diverse preservation capacities on fish and fishery products’ spoilage. Inclusions with other preservation techniques, such as hurdle technology, for the shelf-life extension of fish and fishery products are also summarized.

Catla (Catla catla) steaks treated with sodium benzoate (SB) 0.5-2 % packed under aerobic (AP) and vacuum packaging (VP) were evaluated for biochemical, microbiological and sensory quality changes during chilled storage conditions for 27 days. The results were plotted against time, determining best fit order with corresponding regression equation to predict and compare with experimental findings. The formation of volatile amines (TVB-N) was low in samples treated with SB under VP, while no significant difference was observed in pH values. Peroxide value and salt soluble nitrogen values were significantly influenced under VP and SB treatment. Total plate count values significantly increased in all samples, but were within the maximum permissible limits. E. coli, S. aureus and Salmonella were not detected in the samples during storage. Zero order kinetics exhibited best fit for changes in biochemical and microbiological quality. Sensory evaluation scores had high correlation with storage period and low relative error (P0) for control samples under AP and VP. Therefore, combination of SB at 2.0% and VP can be used effectively as an intervention for the preservation of chilled stored Catla steaks.