Is Sea turtle kosher?

Sea turtle is not kosher according to Jewish dietary law. A reptile, not a fish. Only fish with fins and scales can be kosher, so sea turtle is not kosher.

What is the scientific name of Sea turtle?

The scientific name of Sea turtle is Cheloniidae.

Does Sea turtle have fins and scales?

Sea turtle 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 Sea turtle sushi or sashimi?

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

Where can I find more information about whether Sea turtle 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.

Sea turtle

Cheloniidae

Not Kosher

No fins or scales

Fins No

Scales No

Description

Sea turtles are marine reptiles that live in warm and temperate oceans worldwide, swimming long distances and coming ashore on sandy beaches only to lay eggs. Common groups include green, loggerhead, and hawksbill turtles.

Sea turtle in foreign languages

Scientific	Cheloniidae
Hebrew	צבים ימיים
Arabic	لجئيات
Portuguese	Queloniídeos
French	Chelonioinea
Italian	Chelonidi
German	Meeresschildkröten
Russian	Морские черепахи
Chinese	海龜科
Japanese	ウミガメ科
Korean	바다거북과
Vietnamese	Họ Vích
Thai	วงศ์เต่าทะเล

Warnings & Kosher Issues

A sea turtle is a reptile, not a fish, so it is not kosher.
All sea turtle species are protected under the Endangered Species Act and international law, so harvesting them is illegal in most of the world.
Sea turtle meat and eggs can cause chelonitoxism, a rare but sometimes fatal poisoning.