The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council recently voted in favor of a measure to preserve 38,000 miles of deep sea coral habitats off the Eastern Seaboard that are instrumental to New Jersey, according to officials at Monmouth University’s Urban Coast Institute (UCI).

The coral habitats are roughly about the size of Virginia, and serve as the most valuable and productive canyons off the Jersey Coast, according to Tony MacDonald, director of UCI.

Key figures from organizations who were instrumental in achieving the historic compromise in securing approval from the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council are being recognized by UCI at its 11th Annual Future of the Ocean Symposium & National Champions of the Ocean Awards Luncheon on Oct. 29.

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