The Hump is one of many trendy foodie outposts in environmentally-conscious Santa Monica, California. However, a sting operation conducted by the producers of the Oscar-winning short “The Cove,” about the annual dolphin kill in Japan, revealed that The Hump’s airport location has been serving meat from an endangered animal in its sushi. The Hump’s head chef, Kiyoshiro Yamamoto, and parent company, Typhoon Restaurants Inc., are the defendants.
Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, killing and serving an endangered species risks fines up to $200,000 for organizations or companies, $100,000 for individuals, and a year in jail. Apparently, the meat was bought out of the back of a white Mercedez and served pretty much straight from there. The meat was a $600 omakase, or chef’s special, which turned out to be endangered sei whale. Because there’s nothing healthier than seafood bought out of someone’s trunk!
Mmm, tasty!
Tags: Santa Monica, California, The Hump, restaurant caught selling whale meat, endangered species killed for food, Typhoon Restaurant Inc., Kiyoshiro Yamamoto, sei whales, Marine Mammal Protection Act