The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society that works to protect Canada's natural areas is concerned that the protection efforts by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans are not enough to save the delicate glass sponge reefs in British Columbia's Hecate Strait.

The group, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, has been lobbying to protect the sponges for over 15 years.

It said that efforts to save the fragile undersea treasures by The Department of Fisheries and Oceans are not enough. According to scientists, discovery of glass sponge reefs is like finding a herd of dinosaurs roaming on land.

The BC reefs date back more than 9,000 years and are the world's only living examples of the large sponge reefs that have been around since the Jurassic Period.

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society director Sabine Jessen said some of the reefs are as tall as eight-storey buildings. Some of the white, grey or taupe colored sponges resemble coral, while others look like delicate Elizabethan neck ruffles or the pleated tulle of a ballerina's skirt.

According to her, permitting bottom trawlers and other fishing activities near the prehistoric reefs might threaten the existence of the delicate sponges although they can crumble if disturbed and fishing activities blend sea floor sediment, chocking the sponges.

Jessen said, "We've had concerns right from the beginning that the reefs are vulnerable to anything that touches them because they have the consistency of meringue. If something touches them it smashes them to bits".

On Friday, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans declared the area located in Hecate Strait and nearby Queen Charlotte Sound off Haida Gwaii as marine-protected areas. A 30-day public comment period concludes July 26.