"The Hump" in Santa Monica (KTLA News) |
SANTA MONICA --A sushi restaurant known for its celebrity clientele will be closing its doors in apology for illegally serving whale meat.
Effective Saturday, "The Hump" will be closing forever after 12 years of business, restaurant officials announced Friday.
A statement posted on what remains of The Hump's website says the closure will be a "self-imposed punishment" for serving meat of endangered whales.
The owner of The Hump has pledged to "make a substantial contribution" to a charity dedicated to the preservation of whales and other endangered species.
The restaurant previously issued an apology Monday for illegally selling whale meat, in violation of the federal Marine Mammall Protection Act.
Typhoon Restaurant Inc., the parent company of The Hump restaurant, and 45-year-old Kiyoshiro Yamamoto of Culver City were each charged last week in federal court with illegal sale of a marine mammal product for an unauthorized purpose.
This statement was posted on the Hump's website Friday:
After twelve years doing business in Santa Monica, The Hump will be closing its doors effective March 20th, 2010.
The Hump 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. Closing the restaurant is a self-imposed punishment on top of the fine that will be meted out by the court. The Owner of The Hump also will be taking additional action to save endangered species.
One such action will be to make a substantial contribution to one or more responsible organizations dedicated to the preservation of whales and other endangered species.
The Hump apologizes to our loyal customers, the community of Santa Monica, and the public at large for our illegal actions. While the current difficulties faced by The Hump overshadow the many friendships formed over the years, we want our customers and friends to know how much we thank you for your support.
The Hump's illegal activities came to light following a 'sting operation' conducted by the the director of the Oscar winning documentary "The Cove."
Celebrities and other VIPs have been known to fly in especially to have dinner in the restaurant's upstairs space at the Santa Monica airport.
Director Louie Psihoyos says his documentary team began investigating the restaurant in October after being tipped off by friends that it had raw slices of whale meat on its menu.
Serving whale meat is outlawed in the United States.
Two animal rights activists -- Crystal Galbraith, 27, and a friend who spoke fluent Japanese -- took secret video in the restaurant.
They ordered a $600 sushi meal where the chef picks the dishes, one of which was identified to them by waiters as whale meat. In the video, the servers refer to it several times by its Japanese name, kujira, and say it costs $60 per plate.
The pair secretly bagged the thick pink slices of meat, which were then examined by Professor Scott Baker, associate director of the Marine Mammal Institute at Oregon State University.
Baker said DNA testing confirmed the samples were from a Sei whale, an endangered species sometimes hunted in the North Pacific as part of a controversial Japanese science program.
Agents also seized some suspected whale meat during a search of the restaurant Friday but are awaiting test results to confirm itwas Sei whale, U.S. attorney spokesman Thom Mrozak said.
An attorney for Typhoon, Gary Lincenberg, said the restaurant accepts responsibility for serving whale and will agree to pay a fine. If convicted, the company could be fined up to $200,000.
Court records say agents interviewed Yamamoto, a Culver City resident and a chef at The Hump for the past seven years, and he admitted serving whale to two young women.
Yamamoto's attorney, Mark Byrne, declined to comment on the charges, saying he hadn't had time to review them. If convicted, Yamamoto could face a year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.
"The Cove," which reveals horrifying slaughter of dolphins in Japan, won the best documentary Oscar on Sunday.
Effective Saturday, "The Hump" will be closing forever after 12 years of business, restaurant officials announced Friday.
A statement posted on what remains of The Hump's website says the closure will be a "self-imposed punishment" for serving meat of endangered whales.
The owner of The Hump has pledged to "make a substantial contribution" to a charity dedicated to the preservation of whales and other endangered species.
The restaurant previously issued an apology Monday for illegally selling whale meat, in violation of the federal Marine Mammall Protection Act.
Typhoon Restaurant Inc., the parent company of The Hump restaurant, and 45-year-old Kiyoshiro Yamamoto of Culver City were each charged last week in federal court with illegal sale of a marine mammal product for an unauthorized purpose.
This statement was posted on the Hump's website Friday:
After twelve years doing business in Santa Monica, The Hump will be closing its doors effective March 20th, 2010.
The Hump 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. Closing the restaurant is a self-imposed punishment on top of the fine that will be meted out by the court. The Owner of The Hump also will be taking additional action to save endangered species.
One such action will be to make a substantial contribution to one or more responsible organizations dedicated to the preservation of whales and other endangered species.
The Hump apologizes to our loyal customers, the community of Santa Monica, and the public at large for our illegal actions. While the current difficulties faced by The Hump overshadow the many friendships formed over the years, we want our customers and friends to know how much we thank you for your support.
The Hump's illegal activities came to light following a 'sting operation' conducted by the the director of the Oscar winning documentary "The Cove."
Celebrities and other VIPs have been known to fly in especially to have dinner in the restaurant's upstairs space at the Santa Monica airport.
Director Louie Psihoyos says his documentary team began investigating the restaurant in October after being tipped off by friends that it had raw slices of whale meat on its menu.
Serving whale meat is outlawed in the United States.
Two animal rights activists -- Crystal Galbraith, 27, and a friend who spoke fluent Japanese -- took secret video in the restaurant.
They ordered a $600 sushi meal where the chef picks the dishes, one of which was identified to them by waiters as whale meat. In the video, the servers refer to it several times by its Japanese name, kujira, and say it costs $60 per plate.
The pair secretly bagged the thick pink slices of meat, which were then examined by Professor Scott Baker, associate director of the Marine Mammal Institute at Oregon State University.
Baker said DNA testing confirmed the samples were from a Sei whale, an endangered species sometimes hunted in the North Pacific as part of a controversial Japanese science program.
Agents also seized some suspected whale meat during a search of the restaurant Friday but are awaiting test results to confirm itwas Sei whale, U.S. attorney spokesman Thom Mrozak said.
An attorney for Typhoon, Gary Lincenberg, said the restaurant accepts responsibility for serving whale and will agree to pay a fine. If convicted, the company could be fined up to $200,000.
Court records say agents interviewed Yamamoto, a Culver City resident and a chef at The Hump for the past seven years, and he admitted serving whale to two young women.
Yamamoto's attorney, Mark Byrne, declined to comment on the charges, saying he hadn't had time to review them. If convicted, Yamamoto could face a year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.
"The Cove," which reveals horrifying slaughter of dolphins in Japan, won the best documentary Oscar on Sunday.
