WHALE SUSHI: The L.A.
restaurant was caught serving illegal whale sushi like this — called
kujira in Japan. (Photo: jetalone/Flickr)
restaurant was caught serving illegal whale sushi like this — called
kujira in Japan. (Photo: jetalone/Flickr)
A Santa Monica sushi restaurant and one of its sushi chefs were charged yesterday with illegally serving endangered whale meat. Its owners face up to a year in prison and up to $200,000 in fines. The restaurant accepts responsibility and will pay the fines, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Once again armed with hidden video cameras and tiny microphones,
the team behind the Oscar-winning documentary The Cove
orchestrated a sting operation in one of California‘s most
highly regarded sushi destinations — a restaurant called the Hump —
while in Los Angeles to receive their Academy Award, according
to the New York Times.
the team behind the Oscar-winning documentary The Cove
orchestrated a sting operation in one of California‘s most
highly regarded sushi destinations — a restaurant called the Hump —
while in Los Angeles to receive their Academy Award, according
to the New York Times.
The so-called “sushi sting,” which involved many of the same James
Bond-like undercover methods used to reveal dolphin hunting in the movie, actually began last
October when the documentary’s associate producer, Charles Hambleton,
heard from friends that the Hump was serving illegal whale meat — a
shocking allegation, even in sushi-loving Tinseltown where unusual fish
imported from Japan can be commonplace menu items.
Bond-like undercover methods used to reveal dolphin hunting in the movie, actually began last
October when the documentary’s associate producer, Charles Hambleton,
heard from friends that the Hump was serving illegal whale meat — a
shocking allegation, even in sushi-loving Tinseltown where unusual fish
imported from Japan can be commonplace menu items.
Since Hambleton knew the whole crew would be in town for the
Academy Awards, it only made sense to plan the operation for that same
week. And, of course, Hambleton needed time to build specialized hidden
cameras for the operation too.
Academy Awards, it only made sense to plan the operation for that same
week. And, of course, Hambleton needed time to build specialized hidden
cameras for the operation too.
On Feb. 28, just a week before the filmmakers stood on the stage at
the Oscars to accept their award, two animal activist associates
wearing cameras and microphones sat down at the Hump and ordered a
session of omakase, a sushi meal for which the chef picks all the
dishes. Sure enough, the video clearly shows them being served thick,
pink slices of meat — which the waitress unambiguously describes as
“whale.”
the Oscars to accept their award, two animal activist associates
wearing cameras and microphones sat down at the Hump and ordered a
session of omakase, a sushi meal for which the chef picks all the
dishes. Sure enough, the video clearly shows them being served thick,
pink slices of meat — which the waitress unambiguously describes as
“whale.”
After feigning interest and covertly stashing the meat in Ziploc
bags, the activists walked out with their evidence. Samples were then
sent to the Marine Mammal Institute at Oregon State
University, confirming that the meat was indeed from a whale. Worse yet,
DNA from the samples indicated more specifically that the animal was a
Sei whale, an endangered species. “I’ve been doing this for years,” said
professor Scott Baker, who performed the tests. “I was pretty shocked.”
bags, the activists walked out with their evidence. Samples were then
sent to the Marine Mammal Institute at Oregon State
University, confirming that the meat was indeed from a whale. Worse yet,
DNA from the samples indicated more specifically that the animal was a
Sei whale, an endangered species. “I’ve been doing this for years,” said
professor Scott Baker, who performed the tests. “I was pretty shocked.”
After Baker forwarded his findings to the United States attorney in
Los Angeles, further investigations allegedly revealed an assemblage of shady
smuggling practices occurring at the Hump, including the discovery that
the restaurant’s chefs likely obtained their whale meat from a
mysterious Mercedes parked behind the restaurant.
Los Angeles, further investigations allegedly revealed an assemblage of shady
smuggling practices occurring at the Hump, including the discovery that
the restaurant’s chefs likely obtained their whale meat from a
mysterious Mercedes parked behind the restaurant.
Law officials entered the Hump last Friday serving search warrants,
and they said charges would be brought against the restaurant for
violating federal laws against selling marine mammals.
and they said charges would be brought against the restaurant for
violating federal laws against selling marine mammals.
“This isn’t just about saving whales,” said Louie Psihoyos, the
director of The Cove, “But about saving the planet.”
director of The Cove, “But about saving the planet.”
Bryan Nelson is a regular contributor to Mother Nature Network, where this post
originally appeared.
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