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Is Halibut kosher?

Yes — Halibut is kosher under Jewish dietary law.

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

Halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus (Atlantic) / Hippoglossus stenolepis (Pacific))

Image: Photo by Vsevolod Rudyi · licensed CC BY 4.0 · source

Scientific name
Hippoglossus hippoglossus (Atlantic) / Hippoglossus stenolepis (Pacific)
Hebrew name
הליבוט
Also known as
Atlantic Halibut, Pacific Halibut, California Halibut, Chicken Halibut
Habitat
North Atlantic, North Pacific, cold deep waters
Kosher status
Kosher

About Halibut

See: Flounders The Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) is a flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae. They are demersal fish living on or near sand, gravel or clay bottoms at depths of between 50 and 2,000 m (200 and 6,600 ft). The halibut is among the largest teleost (bony) fish in the world, and is a threatened species owing to a slow rate of growth and overfishing. Halibut are strong swimmers and are able to migrate long distances. Halibut size is not age-specific, but rather tends to follow a cycle related to halibut (and therefore food) abundance. The native habitat of the Atlantic halibut is the temperate and arctic waters of the northern Atlantic, from Labrador and Greenland to Iceland, the Barents Sea and as far south as the Bay of Biscay and Virginia. It is the largest flatfish in the world, reaching lengths of up to 4.7 m (15 ft) and weights of 320 kg (710 lb). Its lifespan can reach 50 years. Age can be estimated by counting the rings laid down inside the otolith – a bony structure found inside the inner ear of the fish. The Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) is a flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae. They are demersal fish living on or near sand, gravel or clay bottoms at depths of between 50 and 2,000 m (200 and 6,600 ft). The halibut is among the largest teleost (bony) fish in the world, and is a threatened species owing to a slow rate of growth and overfishing. Halibut are strong swimmers and are able to migrate long distances. Halibut size is not age-specific, but rather tends to follow a cycle related to halibut (and therefore food) abundance. The native habitat of the Atlantic halibut is the temperate and arctic waters of the northern Atlantic, from Labrador and Greenland to Iceland, the Barents Sea and as far south as the Bay of Biscay and Virginia. It is the largest flatfish in the world, reaching lengths of up to 4.7 m (15 ft) and weights of 320 kg (710 lb). Its lifespan can reach 50 years. Age can be estimated by counting the rings laid down inside the otolith – a bony structure found inside the inner ear of the fish. Description The Atlantic halibut is a right-eyed flounder. It is flattened sideways and habitually lies on the left side of its body with both eyes migrating...

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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