A chef from a Santa Monica restaurant that illegally served whale meat has been sentenced.

Susumu Ueda was given probation, fined US$5,000 and ordered to complete 200 hours of community service. He pleaded guilty in 2014 to conspiracy and violating the US Marine Mammal Protection Act.

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

The restaurant closed and the owner was sentenced last month to fines and probation.

Another chef and the whale meat supplier are awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to misdemeanour charges.