The presence of the fish parasites Diphyllobothriidae and Anisakidae, as well as other helminthes capable of infecting marine mammals and human beings was evaluated in four commonly consumed species from the Peruvian coast. Muscle and abdominal cavity samples from 100 specimens each of caballa (Scomber japonicus), cachema (Cynoscion analis), coco (Paralonchurus peruanus) and loma (Sciaena deliciosa), collected at the port of Callao from July to September 1999, were studied. Diphyllobothriidae plerocercoides larvae were found in 1% ofthe loma, and Anisakidae larvae in 23% of the caballa, including Anisakis physeteris and A. simplex. Other larval forms found were Corynosoma obtuscens in 55% of the loma, 3% of the caballa, 16% of the coco and 2% of the cachema; Tentacularia coryphaenae in 4% of the caballa; and Nybelinia sp. in 13% of the loma and 1% of the cachema. The helminthes were only found in the abdominal cavity. The heaviest parasite load was found in caballa, followed by loma, and larval stages of Corynosoma obtuscens were found in ali four salt water fish species.