Eelgrass, once plentiful in Osaka Bay, is making a comeback-with some help from local divers.

Before pollution wiped it out, the plant's long, grasslike leaves supported fish and other life in the bay, while its roots held the sandy bottom from washing out to sea.

A flowering plant of the pondweed family, eelgrass purifies water by absorbing phosphorus and other substances that pollute the sea.

In December, divers-volunteers drawn from the nonprofit Association for the Technical Promotion of Environmental Education and students studying environmental issues at the Osaka Communication Art School-began replanting the eelgrass on the bottom of the bay to restore the natural environment.

``It could take many years for the sea to recover,'' noted Mitsunori Iwamoto, 45, one of the divers. ``But unless we start now, the sea will never be clean.''

Until the early 1970s, eelgrass was abundant in Osaka Bay. The grass was a home and breeding ground for fish and other sea creatures.

But deteriorating water quality and the encroachment of reclaimed land wiped out the eelgrass.

And, as the eelgrass vanished, so too did the aquatic creatures it supported.

To restore the natural environment of Osaka Bay, the central and Osaka prefectural governments worked out a plan to replant eelgrass.

But one problem remained-how to afford the necessary divers?

Not a problem after all. Once they got wind of the plan, local divers were eager to volunteer to help out.

Last February, the divers began looking for suitable places to plant the eelgrass, finally choosing an area off Tarui Southern Beach in Sennan. Local fishermen also suggested suitable spots.

In December, using eelgrass taken from another part of the bay scheduled to be torn up by dredging work, the divers anchored 100 plants to the bottom of the sea, about 2.5 meters below the surface. They also spread eelgrass seeds along the bottom.

``I had thought Osaka Bay was too dirty for diving, but after diving there I've changed my mind,'' Iwamoto said. ``Now I think it's possible the bay will someday attract divers.''(IHT/Asahi: February 8,2005)