Santa Monica's The Hump Sushi Restaurant in a Whale of Trouble. Accused of Selling Whale Meat to Customers. From NYTimes.

whalemeat

I consider Brian Vidor, proprietor of The Hump and Typhoon, a friend of mine. His sushi restaurant The Hump has been accused of selling whale meat to customers. The sale of marine mammals violates federal law. No charges have yet been made although authorities say charges may be pressed by this week. I wish him the best of luck on his current legal woes.

I've eaten things that were or are illegal but not endangered like fugu aka poison blowfish, raw chicken, etc. I'm okay with that. Usually the banned item has been outlawed by the food police for the good of the public e.g., certain raw milk or unpasteurized cheeses. So it's at your own risk if you decide to skirt the law and consume it. Cool.

I, however, personally do not eat anything endangered. The type of whale meat being investigated in this incident is from the Sei whale, a baleen whale, and it is currently listed as endangered by the U.S. government National Marine Fisheries Service under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Read the New York Times piece for complete details on this local incident of a global scale.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I have to think that your friend should probably get a good PR rep, stat. This will kill them.
Anonymous said…
They may now wish to consider renaming their restaurant from "The Hump" as well.
Michael said…
Where they selling it on the menu as whale meat or where they saying it was something else?
Anonymous said…
All the fuss over the Japanese and it's an American running a sushi restaurant and illegally selling whale meat???
Juliet said…
What is the basis for these accusations? I'm confused.
Eddie Lin said…
Anony,

More importantly, Brian needs a great attorney.


Anony,

Renaming the restaurant is the least of his worries right now, but nice suggestion.


Michael,

Apparently, according to the NY Times piece, wasn't on the menu. I guess it was a special item that the customer had to request.


Anony,

Yeah, it's convoluted which is why I described it as a local incident on a global scale.


Juliet,

Read the original NY Times piece (link at end of my post) and all of your questions will be answered.
Anonymous said…
"Anonymous said...

I have to think that your friend should probably get a good PR rep, stat. This will kill them.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010 1:44:00 PM PST"

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUCK YOU, this place SHOULD close. Great friend you have there.
I live moments away from this place, it should close - on ethics.
It should close - they commit robbery.
They should close - and they will.

I can't imagine how many people are planning to picket this place come next week, it is ILLEGAL to serve SEI WHALE in AMERICA.
REMEMBER THAT.
Anonymous said…
By the way, your "friend" was busted 4-years ago for the same charge.

Video cameras didn't happen to be there the first time.