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.鈥檚 central coast.

The department describes the reefs as 鈥済lobally unique ecosystems.鈥�

The government statement issued Thursday says parts of the reefs are about 9,000 years old, and they鈥檙e considered to be the largest living example of glass sponge reefs that were 鈥渁bundant鈥� millions of years ago.

It says the reefs鈥� 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