The Los Angeles Times reports that The Hump, the Santa Monica, California, restaurant charged by federal authorities with serving whale meat - which is an endangered species - has closed its doors.
The restaurant posted a notice on its website calling the move a "self-imposed punishment,” and said that ownership “hopes that by closing its doors, it will help bring awareness to the detrimental effect that illegal whaling has on the preservation of our ocean ecosystems and species.”
The serving of whale meat was discovered by a sting operation run by the same activists behind The Cove a documentary about animal abuse that won an Academy Award this year.
According to the Times, “The activists used a tiny video camera to record their payment of $600 for the omakase, or chef's choice, which included eight pieces of whale. The activists bagged samples of the meat and sent them to the Marine Mammal Institute, where they were determined to be sei whale, an endangered species.”
The restaurant posted a notice on its website calling the move a "self-imposed punishment,” and said that ownership “hopes that by closing its doors, it will help bring awareness to the detrimental effect that illegal whaling has on the preservation of our ocean ecosystems and species.”
The serving of whale meat was discovered by a sting operation run by the same activists behind The Cove a documentary about animal abuse that won an Academy Award this year.
According to the Times, “The activists used a tiny video camera to record their payment of $600 for the omakase, or chef's choice, which included eight pieces of whale. The activists bagged samples of the meat and sent them to the Marine Mammal Institute, where they were determined to be sei whale, an endangered species.”
- KC's View:
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That "self-imposed punishment” probably was chosen in the hope that the government won’t look for the maximum punishment in the case, which is one year in prison and a fine of $200,000.
