UPSC Prelims 2013 Q54: Geography – Oceanography
The most important fishing grounds of the world are found in the regions where
- (a) warm and cold atmospheric currents meet
- (b) rivers drain out large amounts of freshwater into the sea
- (c) warm and cold oceanic currents meet
- (d) continental shelf is undulating
Answer: (c) warm and cold oceanic currents meet
Explanation
Where the world's best fishing grounds lie
The richest fishing grounds are where warm and cold ocean currents meet.
The mixing brings nutrients to the surface, so plankton grow, and fish come to feed.
| Fishing ground | Warm current | Cold current |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Banks, off Newfoundland | Gulf Stream | Labrador Current |
| North-west Pacific, off Japan | Kuroshio | Oyashio |
| North-east Atlantic (Dogger Bank) | North Atlantic Drift | Cold Arctic water |
Other conditions that help:
| Condition | Why |
|---|---|
| Shallow continental shelf | Sunlight reaches the bottom |
| Upwelling of cold water | Brings nutrients; as off Peru |
| Cool temperate seas | Fish keep longer; more plankton |
The options checked: atmospheric currents, river freshwater and an undulating shelf are not the reason.
Answer: (c) warm and cold oceanic currents meet.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Atmospheric currents are winds; they do not create fishing grounds.
- (b) Incorrect. Freshwater from rivers is not the main cause.
- (c) CORRECT. The best fishing grounds lie where warm and cold oceanic currents meet.
- (d) Incorrect. An undulating continental shelf is not the reason.
Key point
Major fishing grounds: meeting of warm and cold currents (Grand Banks: Gulf Stream + Labrador; Japan: Kuroshio + Oyashio); plankton thrive.
Remember
Best fishing: where warm and cold currents meet.
Common mistakes
- Confusing oceanic currents with atmospheric currents.
- Forgetting the role of plankton as fish food.
- Mixing up the current pairs: Labrador-Gulf Stream and Oyashio-Kuroshio.
Exam tip
Cold + warm current = plankton = fish.
Sources
- NCERT Class XI — Fundamentals of Physical Geography, Ch 14 (Movements of Ocean Water)
- G.C. Leong — Certificate Physical and Human Geography (The Oceans; Fishing)