Fish that are not kosher
58 species excluded under kashrut. The rule is simple: a kosher fish has both fins and scales (Leviticus 11:9-12). Everything below fails that test.
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Shellfish, crustaceans & molluscs
No fins and no scales. The Torah's prohibition on non-scaled sea creatures explicitly covers shrimp, lobster, crab, oysters, clams, scallops, squid, octopus, and everything else in this category. None are kosher under any mainstream authority.
Not Kosher Abalone
HaliotisPaua, Ormer
Not Kosher Barnacle
CirripediaGooseneck barnacle, Percebes, Acorn barnacle
Not Kosher Clam
BivalviaQuahog, Littleneck, Cherrystone
Not Kosher Conch
StrombidaeQueen conch, Horse conch
Not Kosher Crab
BrachyuraDungeness crab, Blue crab, King crab
Not Kosher Crayfish
AstacoideaCrawfish, Crawdad, Mudbug
Not Kosher Cuttlefish
SepiidaSepia
Not Kosher Horseshoe crab
Limulus polyphemusAtlantic horseshoe crab, King crab (Asian markets)
Not Kosher Jellyfish
ScyphozoaMoon jelly, Box jelly, Cnidaria
Not Kosher Krill
EuphausiaceaAntarctic krill, Okiami
Not Kosher Lobster
NephropidaeMaine lobster, American lobster, Homarus
Not Kosher Mantis shrimp
StomatopodaMantis prawn
Not Kosher Mussel
MytilidaeBlue mussel, Green-lipped mussel, Zebra mussel
Not Kosher Octopus
OctopodaCommon octopus, Tako, Pulpo
Not Kosher Oyster
OstreidaeEastern oyster, Pacific oyster, Rock oyster
Not Kosher Periwinkle
LittorinaSea snail, Winkle
Not Kosher Prawn
DendrobranchiataKing prawn, Tiger prawn, Jumbo prawn
Not Kosher Scallop
PectinidaeBay scallop, Sea scallop, Queen scallop
Not Kosher Sea anemone
Actiniaria
Not Kosher Sea cucumber
HolothuroideaBêche-de-mer, Trepang, Sea slug
Not Kosher Sea slug
NudibranchiaNudibranch
Not Kosher Sea urchin
EchinoideaUni
Not Kosher Shrimp
CarideaPrawn, Tiger prawn, Giant shrimp
Not Kosher Snail
GastropodaEscargot, Periwinkle, Whelk
Not Kosher Squid
TeuthidaCalamari, Ika, Loligo
Not Kosher Whelk
BuccinidaeCommon whelk, Waved whelk, Bulot
Fish without scales
A fish must have both fins and scales (Leviticus 11:9-12). These species lack removable scales — either because they never develop them, lose them as adults, or their scales don't qualify halachically.
Not Kosher Bowfin
Amia calvaMudfish, Dogfish (freshwater), Grinnel
Not Kosher Burbot
Lota lotaEelpout, Lawyer
Not Kosher Catfish
SiluriformesChannel catfish, Blue catfish, Flathead catfish
Not Kosher Conger eel
Conger congerConger, European conger, Sea conger
Not Kosher Cusk-eel
OphidiidaeCusk eel
Not Kosher Eel
Anguilla anguillaEuropean eel, American eel, Anguilla
Not Kosher Electric eel
Electrophorus electricusPoraquê
Not Kosher Frogfish
AntennariidaeAnglerfish (shallow)
Not Kosher Gar
LepisosteidaeAlligator gar, Longnose gar, Spotted gar
Not Kosher Hagfish
MyxiniSlime eel, Eptatretus
Not Kosher Lamprey
PetromyzontidaeSea lamprey, Vampire fish
Not Kosher Monkfish
Lophius americanusAnglerfish, Goosefish, Lotte
Not Kosher Moray eel
MuraenidaeMoray, Green moray, Spotted moray
Not Kosher Ocean pout
Zoarces americanusEelpout, Mutton fish
Not Kosher Ocean sunfish
Mola molaMola, Common mola
Not Kosher Paddlefish
Polyodon spathulaSpoonbill, Mississippi paddlefish
Not Kosher Pufferfish
TetraodontidaeFugu, Blowfish, Swellfish
Not Kosher Snake eel
OphichthidaeSnake-eel
Not Kosher Stonefish
SynanceiaReef stonefish
Not Kosher Sturgeon
AcipenserBeluga sturgeon, White sturgeon, Lake sturgeon
Not Kosher Swordfish
Xiphias gladiusBroadbill
Not Kosher Viperfish
Chauliodus
Not Kosher Wolffish
Anarhichas lupusWolf fish, Sea wolf, Atlantic wolffish
Cartilaginous fish (sharks, rays, skates)
These fish have skeletons of cartilage rather than bone, and their "scales" are modified tooth-like denticles. No mainstream authority accepts them.
Not Kosher Dogfish
Squalus acanthiasSpiny dogfish, Spurdog, Mud shark
Not Kosher Ratfish
ChimaeraChimaera, Ghost shark, Rabbitfish
Not Kosher Ray
BatoideaStingray, Manta ray, Eagle ray
Not Kosher Shark
SelachimorphaMako, Great white, Hammerhead
Not Kosher Skate
RajidaeCommon skate, Little skate, Winter skate
Not Kosher Stingray
DasyatidaeSouthern stingray, Bluespotted stingray
Processed foods & caviar
Market items whose kosher status depends on the source species and the certification of the facility. Without a reliable hechsher on the package, treat as not kosher.
Other
Common questions
What about fish that's on the fence?
A few species — swordfish and sturgeon are the classics — are accepted by some authorities and rejected by others. For Orthodox consumers following the Orthodox Union, Chabad, or mainstream rabbinic authority, treat both as not kosher. When in doubt, consult your rabbi.
Does a fish with no fins exist?
Practically, every fish has fins. The halachic disqualification almost always comes down to scales — which many species never develop, shed as they mature, or possess in a form that doesn't meet the halachic definition (ganoid, placoid, or microscopic embedded scales).
Can processed fish products be kosher?
Only with a reliable kosher certification. Whole, raw fish you can inspect for scales is simple. Filleted, smoked, canned, or formed products — including imitation crab, fish sticks, and flavored roe — must carry a hechsher because of species substitution, shared equipment, and flavorings.