White Fish
What is white fish?
Key facts
White fish is a broad term for fish with pale or white flesh, used both as a culinary label and, in fisheries usage, for several demersal fish species such as cod, haddock, hake, and pollock.
Context
White fish is a term used in both culinary and fisheries contexts. In cooking, it refers to fish with pale flesh, often from the ocean, such as cod, haddock, and pollock [2]. In fisheries, it denotes several demersal fish species with fins [1]. Additionally, the term 'whitefish' can refer to freshwater salmonid food fishes found in cold northern lakes and streams [3].
Documented claims
- White fish can mean several kinds of fish with pale flesh. [2]
- In fisheries usage, whitefish or white fish refers to several species of demersal fish with fins. [1]
- Cambridge defines white fish as fish that live in the ocean and have pale flesh, or the flesh of these animals eaten as food. [2]
- Merriam-Webster also uses whitefish for several freshwater salmonid food fishes in cold lakes and streams of the northern hemisphere. [3]
Questions and answers
Which fish are white fish?
White fish includes species like Atlantic cod, haddock, hake, and pollock [1].
What is a white fish in Canada?
In Canada, white fish often refers to freshwater whitefish, which are salmonid food fishes found in cold lakes and streams [3].
Is tilapia a white fish?
Tilapia is generally considered a white fish because it has pale flesh, though it is not specifically listed in the sources provided.
Sources
- WHITEFISH Definition & Meaning — merriam-webster.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
- WHITE FISH Definition & Meaning - Dictionary.com — dictionary.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
- Whitefish - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com — vocabulary.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)