B.C. man fined $33K for illegal fishing in glass sponge reef area

A provincial court judge has issued a $33,596 fine to a commercial fisherman who pleaded guilty to fishing in a sensitive protected marine area and then selling the illegal catch.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, in astatement Thursday, said Brent Belveal, who owns and operates a commercial halibut fishing vessel called Gypsy Soul, was handed the fine in May.

In its statement, it said the illegal fishing took place in the Hecate Strait Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reef Marine Protected Area near Bella Bella. It happened in April 2020 and was captured through electronic monitoring data.

The protected area is considered the largest living example of glass sponge reefs that once flourished millions of years ago, Fisheries and Oceans said. The reefs in the protected area are about 9,000 years old.

"The slow growth, fragility and highly sensitive nature and structure of these sponges make the reefs particularly vulnerable to damage and disturbance since recovery may take tens to several hundreds of years," the statement said.

"Harvesters who disregard fishery closures under the Fisheries Act and the Oceans Act [Marine Protected Area] regulations pose a risk of causing new damage to the reefs and undermine decades of work to provide protection to these globally unique ecosystems."

The protected area has been in place since 2017. Fisheries and Oceans Canada says harvesters are responsible for knowing and following the rules.

Fines were increased in 2021 and included potential bans for recreational and commercial fishermenwho break therules.