Nakashita, S.; Nakamoto, K.; Koshikawa, Y.; Kim, K.-H., and Hibino, T., 2017. Evaluation of granulated coal ash as artificial seabed for eelgrass. In: Lee, J.L.; Griffiths, T.; Lotan, A.; Suh, K.-S., and Lee, J. (eds.), The 2nd International Water Safety Symposium. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 79, pp. 40–44. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.
Granulated coal ash (GCA) is a by-product of coal-fired thermoelectric power stations. In this study, GCA was used to create a functional artificial seabed for eelgrass. Moreover, the capability of GCA for the growth of eelgrass in an indoor experiment was examined to elucidate the ability of eelgrass to establish itself and grow in a GCA artificial seabed created in an actual marine environment. The eelgrass in the GCA artificial seabed branched and adapted similar to that on sandy ground. A stable eelgrass community was established in one year in an actual marine environment. Furthermore, five years after transplantation, the eelgrass community was maintained. For the GCA artificial seabed, the oxidation–reduction potential of the bottom sediments was approximately 100 mV higher than that of the surrounding ground, and the amount of sulfide decreased to approximately one third of that of the surrounding ground. Even five years after construction, a stable environment was preserved. Therefore, it is concluded that GCA is an effective material for an eelgrass seabed.