Prelims 2013 · Geography · Question 4
The most important fishing grounds of the world are found in the regions where
Answer
Warm and cold oceanic currents meet
- (a) Warm and cold atmospheric currents meet — Atmospheric currents are not the main reason for rich fishing grounds. Fish abundance is linked more directly to ocean water conditions, not air currents. Verdict: Incorrect.
- (b) Rivers drain out large amounts of freshwater into the sea — River mouths can support fisheries due to nutrients, but the world’s most important fishing grounds are not primarily defined by this factor. Verdict: Incorrect.
- (c) Warm and cold oceanic currents meet — Where warm and cold ocean currents converge, nutrient mixing and plankton growth are high, supporting dense fish populations; e.g., Grand Banks, off Japan. Verdict: Correct.
- (d) Continental shelf is undulating — Broad continental shelves help fishing, but undulating shelf is not the standard key condition cited for the major fishing grounds of the world. Verdict: Incorrect.