Los Angeles eatery charged with serving whale meat closes
A Los Angeles-area sushi restaurant that made international headlines after it was charged with serving endangered whale meat will close forever as a “self-imposed punishment,” according to a statement on its website.
The parent company of the The Hump, a popular Santa Monica restaurant, and sushi chef Kiyoshiro Yamamoto were charged on March 11 with violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which makes it illegal to sell whale meat.
Federal prosecutors have said that the case stemmed from informants who were served whale meat at The Hump in October 2009 and evolved into a sting operation by U.S. wildlife and customs officials.
The federal charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison and a maximum fine of $100,000 for an individual or $200,000 for an organization.
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