729 
Enhancement of the Marine Environment 
With 
Wastewater Solids 
The ocean environment on the offshore continental shelf can 
be characterized as having surpressed productivity due to the 
limited availability of macro and micro nutrients. Wastewater 
solids when introduced into the marine environment in a controlled 
manner can supply these nutrients and enhance productivity. Current 
and past practices have not emphasized the beneficial application 
of wastewater solids in the ocean. As a consequence, there is only 
a limited amount of information regarding management alternatives 
designed to optimize recycling of wastewater-borne nutrients in 
the ocean. There is, however, sufficient data available to show 
that when managed properly the application of wastewater solids 
in the ocean environment is beneficial. 
Enhancement of shelf productivity can occur through two mecha- 
nisms. The first is by increasing available nutrients in the water 
column and thereby supporting increased planktonic biomass!. How- 
ever, there is virtually no data available to determine the signi- 
ficance of enhanced planktonic productivity on the offshore 
continental shelf. 
The second mechanism involves the benthic environment. Waste- 
water solids contain sufficient quantities of organic matter which 
provides food for benthic organisms. Shelf sediments do not 
optimally support benthic organisms because they are generally 
