is this fish fresh or is it old?

[Karletto]

Today the transportation can literally bring the fish inland within hours but with the help of freezers and fridges there are more buyers. (damn it i live 3 miles from the coast and the local fish market gets fresh fish 1x/ week)

Smell: fresh smell; Put a fish in a fridge -> in 18°C it will start to smell in 2 days
Look: No blood in the eyes, mouth, skin is a sign of a fresh fish; Fish eyes are clear and shiny -> white is white/ black is black; Enlarged belly is a sign of an old fish; There must be no signs of pressings/ cuttings; If the fish was hunted with a hock, expect injuries around the mouth and cheek but its OK to eat. Light red gill is a sign of a fresh fish.
Touch: When u press the finger on the body, the skin has to come back again.

[agbiv]

Nice advice! (didn't mean to rhyme). Ran a fish market for a while and the rule is keep your fish (fresh or frozen thawed) at or near 32' F/0' C as possible. For every 2 degees above that the shelf life of 14 days from catch looses a day! So fish held at 36' F can only be kept 4.5 days! When we slacked out frozen we only kept 7 days @ 32' F. If placed in case & slacked that way kept for 8 days. Very strict logging dates of product too.

[Roomy11]

wow very nice. this is very useful for me, because I love to eat Fish