A controversial $369,000 joint research by Rutgers University, University of Texas, and National Science Foundation scientists that aims to help scientists better understand the history of the deep ocean floor off the coast of New Jersey has been given an approval by The National Marine Fisheries Service.

As a part of the study, ships will tow air guns that will generate pulses of sound every five seconds for one month. These sound waves will bounce back after reaching the bottom of the ocean to be captured by acoustic sensors.

Scientists have calculated that this process will create images of the ocean floor?s sediment layers that will help them to discover the rates of rising and falling of sea levels in ancient times. The chief scientist of the study has claimed that the research will be beneficial to New Jersey and surrounding states, as they face a greater risk by the rising sea levels over the next century.

Giving the nod for the research, The National Marine Fisheries Service, has accepted that many marine species may be disturbed or "otherwise affected" by the experiment, but has stated that it does not anticipate the death of any marine mammals.

Though many experts including Cynthia Zipf, director of Clean Ocean Action, one of several groups that fought the approval of the study, disagrees, the agency has gone ahead and approved it.

Environmental groups such as Clean Ocean Action and local fisheries also claim that the project will adversely affect local fishing, both scattering and killing scores of local marine life. The groups opposing the study have planned a rally for Wednesday on Long Island.