Sushi Bar Caught With Whale Meat Is Closing

The sushi bar in California caught in a sting over whale meat has shut down. The Hump restaurant in Santa Monica announced the move on its website, calling it a "self-imposed punishment," reports the Los Angeles Times. Undercover activists, including an associate producer on the Oscar-winning The Cove, bought samples of the endangered meat and sent them to authorities.

“The Hump hopes that by closing its doors, it will help bring awareness to the detrimental effect that illegal whaling has on the preservation of our ocean ecosystems and species,” reads the restaurant's statement. Federal prosecutors brought charges against the owners, who face up to a year in jail and a $200,000 fine if convicted. (More sushi bar stories.)