One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Restaurant Owner Admits He Allowed Sushi Chefs To Serve Whale Meat
The owner and parent company of a now-closed Santa Monica restaurant pleaded guilty to serving a protected species of whale meat to a customer. Under the terms of a plea deal, they're expected to pay over $27,000 in fines and be put on probation.
The Hump used to be a restaurant at the Santa Monica Municipal Airport, but it was shut down after a 2010 undercover investigation revealed that protected Sei whale meat was being served to customers. Typhoon Restaurant Inc.—the restaurant's parent company—and owner Brian Vidor pleaded guilty on Monday to one unlawful sale of marine mammal, the L.A. Times reports.
Vidor admitted that he knew sushi chefs Kiyoshiro Yamamoto and Susumu Ueda were serving whale and that he permitted it. Those chefs already pleaded guilty, but have not been sentenced.
If Judge Dale S. Fischer agrees to the terms of the plea, Typhoon and Vidor will pay a joint fine of $27,500. Typhoon will also be placed on 18 months of probation, while Vidor will face 12 months. The sentencing is scheduled for February 23.
The investigation into The Hump came about after the producers of the 2009's The Cove, a documentary about the dolphin hunting industry in Japan, secretly recorded whale meat being served. Undercover federal agents then went to The Hump where Yamamoto served them the meat, telling them in a whisper that it was whale. Tests of the meat later revealed it to be at least three years old.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
