[graemep]

> anchovies, herring, and mackerel aren’t on most people’s menu often.

Less popular than salmon, perhaps, but hardly unusual. They are all more common tinned, pickled or cured or similar than raw in the UK.

[mrob]

Oily fish have very short shelf life if they're not cooked or otherwise preserved. You do sometimes see them sold raw in the UK, but chances are they'll already be past their best by the time you buy them.

[graemep]

I am happy to buy them (or fish in general) frozen. I will prefer fresh if I buy from a fishmonger, but with supermarket fish and seafood its not worth it.