The purpose of this list is to give you an idea of which species of fish are generally considered kosher. In practice however, its use is very limited.

Unfortunately, the common, unscientific, names of fish are very inaccurate. For example, there are a number of different species of fish that go by the name tilapia, tuna or red snapper, respectively—and not all of them are kosher. Note that even the FDA warns that species substitution is a very serious problem.

For more on how to go about buying kosher fish see All About Kosher Fish

Also note: This is not an all inclusive list of all non-kosher fish. With thousands and thousands of fish species it would be impossible to produce such a listing. The species presented here are the species commonly fished and sold in fish markets in the U.S.A. If a particular species is not listed it should be not taken as an indication that it is kosher. Rather, its absence from the Kosher Fish Listsignifies that it is most likely not kosher.

Non Kosher Fish List

Click HERE to the Kosher Fish List.

Angler See: Goosefishes

Basa (Pangasius bocourti)

Beluga See: Sturgeons

Billfishes (Family Istiophoridae). Including fishes (Istiophorus species); Marlins and speishes (Tetrapterus species, Makaira species).

Blowfish See: Puffers

Bullhead See: Catfishes

Burbot See: Freshwater Cod

Cabezon See: Sculpins

Catfishes (Order Siluriformes). Including: Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus); Basa (Pangasius bocourti, Tra (Pangasius hypophthalmus)

Cutlassfishes (Family Trichiuridae) including: Cutlassfishes (Trichiurus species) Scabbardfishes (Lepidopus species)

Dogfish See: Bowfin, Sharks

Eels (Order Anguilliforms). Including American and European eel (Anguilia rostrata and Anguila anguila) ; Conger eel (Conger oceanic us) . Gars (Order Semionotiformes). Freshwater gars (Lepisosteus species).

Freshwater Cod (Family Gadidae), Burbot, lawyer, or freshwater ling (lota lota).

Goosefishes or anglers (Lophius species)

Grayfish See: Sharks

Lampreys (Family Petromyzontidae)

Lanceor Launce See: Sand lances

Lawyer See: Freshwater Cods

Leatherjacket See: Jacks (Oligoplites saurus)

Lomosuckers (Family Cyclopteridae). Including: Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus); Snailfishes (Liparis species).

Marlin See: Billfishes

Monk fish (added by Rabbi Donneal Epstein in consultation with Dr. Atz)

Midshipman See: Toadfishes

Ocean pout or eelpout (Macrozoarces americanus)

Oilfish (Ruvettus pretiosus) Puffers (Family Tetraodontidae).

Paddlefish See: Sturgeons

Pout See: Ocean pout

Puffers, blowfishes, swellfishes, sea squab (Sphoeroides species)

Ratfish See: Sharks

Ray See: Sharks

Rock prickleback or rockeel (Xiphister mucosus)

Sailfish See: Billfishes

Sand lances, launces, or eels (Ammodytes species)

Sculpins (Family Cottidae). Including: Sculpins (Myoxocephalus species, Cottus species, Leptocottus species, etc.). Cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus); Searaven (Hemitripterus americanus)

Searaven See: Sculpins

Sea squab See: Puffers

Sharks, rays and their relatives (Class Chondrichthyes). Including Grayfishes or dogfishes (Mustelus species, Squalus species); Soupfin shark (Galeorhinus zyopterus); Sawfishes (Pristis species); Skates (Raja species); Chimaeras or ratfishes (Order Chimaeriformes).

Skates See: Sharks

Snake mackerels (Gempylus species)

Spoonbill cat See: Sturgeons

Sturgeons (Order Acipenseriformes). Including: Sturgeons (Acipensen species, Scaphirhynchus species); Beluga (huso uso); Paddlefish or spoonbill cat (Polyodon spathula)

Swordfish (Xiphias gladies)

Toadfishes (Family Batrachoididae). Including: Toadfishes (Opsanus species); Midshipment (Porichthys species).

Tiggerfishes and firefishes (Family Balistidae). Triggerfishes (Balistes species, Canthidermis species)

Tra (Pangasius hypophthalmus)

Trunkfishes (Family Ostraciidad). Trunkfishes and cowfishes (Lactophrys species). WolEshes (Family Anarhichadidae). Including: Wolffishes or ocean. catfishes (Anarhichas species)