Sponsored message
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

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.

News

The Hump Closes Down After Being Caught Serving Endangered Whale Meat

AP Photo/Reed Saxon

Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.

The sushi restaurant that was exposed for selling endangered sei whale meat will be closing its doors today after 12 years of business in Santa Monica, according to MyFoxLA. The Hump will close permanently--and voluntarily today in a move described as "a self-imposed punishment" on the restaurant's website.

Offering an apology to the sushi restaurant's many loyal customers, the notice posted online continues:

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's parent company, Typhoon Restaurant Inc., and one of their chefs, Kioyoshiro Yamamoto, were each charged March 10th "in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles March 10 with a misdemeanor count of selling a marine mammal product for an unauthorized purpose." The restaurant and Yamamoto could face up to $200,000 and $100,000 respectively in fines, and Yamamoto could be sentenced to a year in federal prison. After being outed to the media for serving the whale meat, as observed over a period of several months, The Hump's actions drew immediate
protest and community and activist backlash.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.

Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.

If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.

Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible year-end gift today

A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right