Arcobacter spp. were isolated from water and mussels of two brackish lakes near Messina (Italy). The isolates were phenotypically characterized on the basis of a large battery of cultural and biochemical tests. By comparison with the reference strains Arcobacter butzleri ATCC 49616 and A. cryaerophilus ATCC 43157 they may be considered Arcobacter butzleri-like bacteria. The current isolation suggests that the brackish environment may play an important role in the survival and transmission of Arcobacter spp. also by seafood cultured in the examined waters.