Is Thresher shark kosher?

Thresher shark is not kosher according to Jewish dietary law. Its skin is covered in tooth-like denticles, not true removable scales, so thresher shark is not kosher.

What is the scientific name of Thresher shark?

The scientific name of Thresher shark is Alopias.

Does Thresher shark have fins and scales?

Thresher shark 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 Thresher shark sushi or sashimi?

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

Where can I find more information about whether Thresher shark 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.

Thresher shark

Alopias

Not Kosher

Has fins but no scales

Fins Yes

Scales No

Description

Thresher sharks are hunted commercially for their meat, their livers for shark liver oil, their skin for shagreen, and their fins for shark fin soup.

Thresher sharks live in all temperate and tropical oceans. They're mostly pelagic, preferring the open ocean in water around 550 m deep or shallower. The long upper tail, which can be as long as the body, is used to swat and stun smaller fish before feeding.

Also known as

fox shark

Thresher shark in foreign languages

Scientific	Alopias
Hebrew	כרישועל
Arabic	قرش دراس
French	Requin-renard
German	Fuchshaie
Greek	Αλωπίας
Russian	Лисьи акулы
Chinese	长尾鲨属
Japanese	オナガザメ
Korean	환도상어속
Vietnamese	Họ Cá nhám đuôi dài
Thai	ปลาฉลามหางยาว

Warnings & Kosher Issues

Has fins but no true scales, only tooth-like placoid denticles, so it is not kosher.
All three thresher species have been listed as vulnerable to extinction by the IUCN since 2007 because their low birth rate makes them easy to overfish.