A freshness estimation method and apparatus (10). The method includes obtaining an absorbance spectrum that is obtained by irradiating an eye of a fish (12) with light having all or part of a wavelength band from 315 nm to 450 nm and estimating freshness of the fish (12) by using a shape of the obtained absorbance spectrum. The apparatus (10) comprises an absorbance spectrum obtainer (31) and a freshness estimator (32).