The owner of a commercial halibut vessel in British Columbia has received more than $33,000 in fines for fishing in a marine protected area containing glass sponge reefs unique to the waters of the Pacific Northwest.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada says a provincial court judge handed down the fine in May to Brent Belveal, who pleaded guilty to offences under the Fisheries Act.

It says Belveal, operator of the vessel Gypsy Soul, harvested and sold his illegal catch from within the Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reef Marine Protected Area near Bella Bella off B.C.害羞草研究所檚 central coast.

The department describes the reefs as 害羞草研究所済lobally unique ecosystems.害羞草研究所�

The government statement issued Thursday says parts of the reefs are about 9,000 years old, and they害羞草研究所檙e considered to be the largest living example of glass sponge reefs that were 害羞草研究所渁bundant害羞草研究所� millions of years ago.

It says the reefs害羞草研究所� slow growth, fragility and highly sensitive structure mean the sponges are especially vulnerable to damage and disturbance, and those who disregard fisheries closures in the area undermine decades of protection efforts.

The Canadian Press