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Sushi chef sentenced for serving whale meat

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  • CHRISTIN KHAN / NOAA / NEFSC
    Sei whale mother and calf as seen from the air.

LOS ANGELES » A chef who worked at a Santa Monica restaurant that illegally served whale meat has been sentenced.

City News Service says Kiyoshiro Yamamoto on Monday received probation, was fined $5,000 and was ordered to complete 200 hours of community service.

He received the same sentence previously given another chef, Susumu Ueda. Both pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy and violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Yamamoto worked at The Hump at Santa Monica Airport. An investigation was launched after producers of the documentary "The Cove" secretly filmed meat from the federally protected sei (SAY’) whale being served at the sushi restaurant five years ago.

The restaurant closed and the owner has been sentenced to fines and probation.

The whale meat supplier pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges and awaits sentencing.

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