Answer: Raw fish from a kosher species may be bought without one, with care about the knife (cRc). Cooked, smoked or processed fish: yes.
Reason: Two issues: the fish must be a kosher species, and the store’s knife may have been used on non-kosher fish.
Source:
- cRc: you can only rely on the fish’s scales (removable without tearing the skin) to know it is a kosher species, not its name; salmon’s flesh color identifies it. Best to buy cut fish at a kosher fish store, or ask the store to clean the knife and use clean butcher paper. Cooked, smoked or otherwise processed fish requires proper kosher certification.
Related questions:
- Do raw eggs need a hechsher? No (cRc, OU). Liquid eggs: yes (cRc).
References: cRc (askcrc.org), “Raw Fish in a Supermarket” · cRc (askcrc.org), “Salmon, Fresh/raw” · cRc (askcrc.org), “Salmon, canned, smoked, or otherwise processed”
