Abstract: A spear-like fish cleaning device for attachment to a fish cleaning machine which can be inserted through a throat cut in a fish and into its belly and thereafter operated to grip the alimentary canal of the fish so as to close it off and disconnect it from the anus, the spear-like fish cleaning device including an elongated shaft, a pair of clamping elements attached to the free end of the shaft, the clamping elements being pivotable towards and away from one another, and, optionally, a knife attached to the free end of the shaft. The elongated shaft may be hollow to allow liquid or gas to be passed into the fish or else the liquid or gas may be passed into the fish via a tube attached to the outside of the elongated shaft.