SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Federal agents are investigating a high-end Santa Monica sushi restaurant for serving illegal whale, following a video sting orchestrated by the producers of the Oscar-winning documentary “The Cove.”
U.S. attorney’s spokesman Thom Mrozek said Tuesday that Santa Monica’s The Hump restaurant is under investigation for serving slices of the endangered Sei whale.
Film director Louie Psihoyos says two animal activists used a tiny video camera to record a $600 “omakase,” or chef’s choice, meal. They pocketed a sample and sent it to a Oregon State University professor who confirmed it was whale.
The team visited the restaurant three times since October, once sitting at the bar to observe preparation and once with federal agents.
An attorney for the Hump declined to comment on the allegations.
