Porpoise is not kosher according to Jewish dietary law. A marine mammal, not a fish. Mammals are kosher only if they both chew the cud and have split hooves, which porpoise does not, so it is not kosher.

What is the scientific name of Porpoise?

The scientific name of Porpoise is Phocoenidae.

Does Porpoise have fins and scales?

Porpoise does not meet the requirement of having both fins and removable scales. Leviticus 11:9-12 requires fish to have both fins and scales to be considered kosher.

Can I eat Porpoise sushi or sashimi?

No. Since Porpoise is not kosher, it should not be consumed in any preparation, including sushi or sashimi.

Where can I find more information about whether Porpoise is kosher?

KosherFish.co references the Orthodox Union (OU) and Chabad lists of kosher and non-kosher fish. For specific halachic questions, consult your local Orthodox rabbi.

Porpoise

Phocoenidae

Not Kosher

No fins or scales

Fins No

Scales No

Description

Porpoises are small marine mammals found in coastal waters and cooler seas across the Northern Hemisphere and parts of the Southern Hemisphere. They look similar to dolphins but are a separate family.

Porpoise in foreign languages

Scientific	Phocoenidae
Hebrew	פוקניים
Arabic	خنازير بحرية
Portuguese	Focenídeos
French	marsouin
Italian	Focene
German	Schweinswale
Russian	Морские свиньи
Turkish	Musurgiller
Chinese	鼠海豚科
Japanese	ネズミイルカ科
Korean	쇠돌고래과
Hindi	शिशुमार
Bengali	শিশুমার
Vietnamese	Họ Cá heo chuột
Thai	พอร์พอยส์
Indonesian	Gondal

Warnings & Kosher Issues

A porpoise is a mammal, not a fish, so it is not kosher.
Porpoises are protected in the United States under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Often confused with dolphins, which are a different but related family of marine mammals.