California whale restaurant closing

A California restaurant facing criminal charges for serving endangered whale meat sushi said it will close permanently as a self-imposed punishment.

The Hump restaurant in Santa Monica and chef Kiyoshiro Yamamoto face charges over the illegal sale of a marine mammal product after the Oscar-winning documentary makers of The Cove filmed them serving Sei whale sushi.

The restaurant owners face up to a year in prison and a US$200,000 ($282,000) fine. Yamamoto faces a maximum fine of US$100,000.