Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Whale Meat to Restaurants. Busted by "The Cove"

[sixmile]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/03/ginichi-ohira-pleads-guil_n_870684.html?ir=Food



'Ginichi Ohira pleaded guilty this week to illegally selling whale meat to Southern California restaurants, reports the LA Times. He now faces 8-14 months in prison, which could include one year of probation and a fine of more than $100,000.

The 50-year old seafood dealer came under the scrutiny of government investigators last year when filmmakers from "The Cove" (a documentary about dolphin killing in Japan), visited The Hump, a Santa Monica restaurant known for its omakase (chef's choice sushi) and adventurous menu. An undercover operation undertaken by federal investigators, marine wildlife advocates, and the filmmakers revealed that the restaurant was serving endangered whale sushi -- a violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Ohira pleaded guilty to selling whale meat to The Hump as well as other Southern California sushi restaurants. Sentencing will take place later on this year.'

more at link

[flvegan]

1. Good.

Hope he has to serve a full sentence. Bust him, and bust every chef or owner and anyone else knowingly involved in the trade of whale meat.

[chervilant]

2. hmm...

I hope everyone on this site has seen The Cove, or makes every effort to see it.

I think the restaurant owners and chefs in this situation should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

[DirkGently]

3. Excellent.

[icnorth]

4. And the California sushi restaurants of course wouldn't have an

inkling that it was whale meat they were serving to their customers. Only Ohira would have that information. :sarcasm: