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Is Coalfish kosher?

Yes — Coalfish is kosher under Jewish dietary law.

Coalfish has fins and scales, which are the two requirements for kosher fish under Jewish dietary law (Leviticus 11:9-12).

Coalfish (Pollachius virens)

Image: Photo by Tino Strauss · licensed CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

Scientific name
Pollachius virens
Also known as
Saithe, Pollock, Coley, Boston Blue
Habitat
North Atlantic, Norwegian coast to Bay of Biscay
Kosher status
Kosher

About Coalfish

See: Codfishes Pollachius virens is a species of marine fish in the genus Pollachius. Together with P. pollachius, it is generally referred to in the United States as pollock. It is commonly known in Britain as the coalfish, coley, or saithe ( or ), and the young fish may also be called podleys or cuddies in Scotland and northern England. Pollachius virens is a species of marine fish in the genus Pollachius. Together with P. pollachius, it is generally referred to in the United States as pollock. It is commonly known in Britain as the coalfish, coley, or saithe ( or ), and the young fish may also be called podleys or cuddies in Scotland and northern England. Distribution and habitat It is common in the northern parts of the Northern Atlantic, including the Bay of Biscay. Juveniles tend to be found close to shore, particularly in rocky areas, and tend to move out into deeper waters as they grow. Description This species can be separated from P. pollachius by looking at the relative lengths of the upper and lower jaws. P. pollachius has a longer underslung lower jaw while P. virens has approximately equal upper and lower jaw lengths. This gives a very different profile to the head. In general, P. pollachius is a brown or golden colour with a dark back while P. virens is bright silver with a very dark green back. P. virens generally appears to have relatively smaller eyes. The lateral line of P. pollachius has a noticeable kink over the pectoral fins while that of P. virens is straighter. Adults can typically...

Source: kosherfish.co/kosher-fish-list (snapshot 2025-12-19); Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0); Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)

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