"The Cove" Director Sets Up Endangered Sushi Sting

by Stephanie Feldstein · 2010-03-12 07:00:00 UTC
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Louie Psihoyos, director of Oscar-winning documentary The Cove, recently worked with two activists on an endangered whale meat sushi sting.

Hooked up with a hidden camera and microphone, the two women dined at The Hump, a chic sushi restaurant in Santa Monica. The women ordered $600 worth of exotic dishes, including whale meat. It was heartbreaking for the vegan activists to eat an endangered species, but they were committed to busting the restaurant and putting an end to the illegal trade. They pocketed a sample, which genetic testing confirmed to be endangered sei whale.

That's when they got the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration involved. NOAA agents accompanied the activists for another meal at The Hump, where they again ordered, and were served, whale meat. 

Activists say that the meat is from Japanese whalers masquerading as "researchers," but the origin hasn't been confirmed yet. More samples have been seized from the restaurant. Sei whale is a common delicacy in some countries, but the animals are supposed to be protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

The company that owns The Hump, as well as the sushi chef, have been charged with selling an endangered species. If convicted of the misdemeanor, the company could be fined up to $200,000, and the chef could serve up to a year in jail and pay $100,000 in fines.

With customers racking up $600 tabs at The Hump, will the penalty be enough to overcome the attraction of serving whale meat?

Fortunately for the marine mammals, Psihoyos isn't resting on his Oscar laurels or the success of the whale meat sting. The Cove has been picked up by Animal Planet for a new series, which will continue to expose Japan's dolphin trade, tentatively titled Dolphin Warriors.

Photo credit: psd

Stephanie Feldstein is a Change.org Editor who has been part of the animal welfare and rescue community for over a decade, and most recently worked for an environmental organization.
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