JUNEAU -- The owners of a Juneau restaurant have agreed to pay a penalty for buying subsistence-harvested halibut.

The Juneau Empire says the owners of the Zen Restaurant will pay a civil penalty of $18,000 over the next 12 months for purchasing halibut they knew was subsistence-caught.

Residents living in rural areas are only eligible for subsistence hunting rights on federal land. The Northern Pacific Halibut Act prohibits the sale, offer for sale, trade or barter of subsistence-harvested halibut.

A NOAA spokeswoman says the person who sold the halibut was not charged, and cooperated with the government.

The halibut was purchased in early 2010 to serve in the restaurant.

Yang Sing LLC was doing business as the Zen Restaurant and Jaded Bar when the halibut was purchased.