Under Jewish law (halacha), a fish is kosher if and only if it has both fins and scales. The Torah source is Leviticus 11:9–12. The scales must be cycloid or ctenoid — the type that can be scraped off without tearing the fish’s skin. Shellfish, shrimp, lobster, crab, squid, octopus, catfish, eel, shark, and swordfish (Orthodox ruling) are not kosher because they lack proper removable scales.

Yes, salmon is kosher. All species of Atlantic and Pacific salmon — including sockeye, coho, chinook, pink, and chum — are kosher. Salmon has both fins and the cycloid scales required by Jewish law. Salmon is listed under the Trout and Salmon family in the Orthodox Union (OU) and Chicago Rabbinical Council (CRC) kosher fish guides.

Yes, tuna is kosher. All commercially sold tuna species — albacore, bluefin, bigeye, yellowfin, and skipjack — are kosher. Tuna has fins and cycloid scales. Canned tuna bearing an OU, CRC, or other recognized kosher symbol has been verified by a supervising agency and is commonly found on kosher tables.

Yes, tilapia is kosher. Tilapia is a member of the cichlid family and has both fins and ctenoid scales. It is recognized as kosher by the Orthodox Union (OU), the CRC, and Chabad.org. Tilapia is one of the most affordable and widely available kosher fish.

Yes, halibut is kosher. Both California Halibut and Atlantic Halibut are listed as kosher by the Orthodox Union and CRC. Halibut is a flatfish in the flounder family and has visible fins and cycloid scales. Important exception: European Turbot, a different flatfish species, is NOT considered kosher by Orthodox authorities.

Swordfish is NOT considered kosher by Orthodox authorities including the Orthodox Union (OU) and the Chicago Rabbinical Council (CRC). Although juvenile swordfish have cycloid scales, adult swordfish lose those scales entirely. Since Jewish law requires scales at the time of consumption, adult swordfish fails the kosher test. The Conservative movement’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards has historically permitted swordfish, but Orthodox Jews do not eat it.

No, catfish is NOT kosher. Catfish has fins but its skin is smooth or covered in bony plates — it does not have the cycloid or ctenoid scales required by Jewish law (Leviticus 11:9–12). All catfish species, including channel catfish, blue catfish, and flathead catfish, are not kosher. This is agreed upon by all major kosher certification agencies.

No, shark is NOT kosher. Sharks have small tooth-like structures called placoid scales (dermal denticles) embedded permanently in their skin. Halacha requires cycloid or ctenoid scales that can be scraped off without tearing the skin. Shark scales cannot be removed, so all shark species are not kosher per the OU, CRC, and Chabad.

Yes, mahi-mahi (also called dolphinfish or dorado) is kosher. Despite the word “dolphin” in one of its names, mahi-mahi is a bony fish, not a mammal. It has both fins and cycloid scales, making it fully kosher. The mammal dolphin (porpoise) is not a fish and is not kosher — mahi-mahi is a completely different animal.

Imitation crab (surimi) is typically made from Alaskan pollock, which is a kosher fish. However, the final product may include non-kosher flavorings, colorings, or crab extract. You must look for a kosher certification symbol (OU, CRC, Star-K, etc.) on the specific package — the base fish being kosher is not sufficient if non-kosher ingredients were added during processing.

The OU- and CRC-corroborated kosher fish list contains 57 primary fish families and species, covering more than 200 common names and trade names. The vast majority of commercially sold fish in North American and European markets are kosher. The main non-kosher exceptions are catfish, shark, eel, sturgeon (Orthodox), swordfish (Orthodox), and all shellfish.