I’m sad to say I have ate there and have said some good things about Hump in Santa Monica. When I heard they where serving whale my gut was wrenched. I only hope someone is convicted or if a immigrant they lose their Visa. In my eyes this is no different then killing a innocent person.

Here is the story:

A high-end sushi restaurant in Santa Monica, California,  said on its website Friday that it is closing its doors after criminal charges were filed alleging it served illegal whale meat.

“After twelve years doing business…The Hump will be closing its doors effective March 20th, 2010,” the restaurant said in a statement on its website which was monitored in Tokyo.

While admitting and apologizing for its “illegal actions,” the restaurant said the closure is “a self-imposed punishment on top of the fine that will be meted out by the court.”

U.S. media reported earlier this month that prosecutors had confirmed The Hump had sold Sei whale meat on at least three occasions since October and the chef was facing up to a year in prison and $100,000 (about 9 million yen) in fines while the owner of the restaurant was facing up to $200,000 in fines.

Sei whales are listed as an endangered species.

Crew members who worked on the U.S. film “The Cove,” which won this year’s Oscar for best documentary for its depiction of a controversial dolphin hunt in a Japanese town, tipped off local authorities about the restaurant, U.S. media reported. They visited the restaurant last year, secretly filming the whale meat in a $600 meal they ordered and pocketed samples.

Tags | hump closed, sushi whale