The most important fishing grounds of the world are found in the regions where

Q: What is UPSC Prelims?

UPSC Prelims is a competitive examination conducted in India. This question is from the 2013 UPSC Prelims Geography paper.

Q: How can I prepare for UPSC Prelims Geography?

To prepare for UPSC Prelims Geography, practice previous year questions (PYQs), understand concepts thoroughly, and solve mock tests regularly. This 2013 question covers Ocean Currents, Tides & El Nino / La Nina topic.

Q: What is the difficulty level of this question?

This UPSC Prelims 2013 Geography question has a easy difficulty level and is marked as an important question.

Q: Where can I find more UPSC Prelims previous year questions?

You can find more UPSC Prelims previous year questions on AspirantMitraa. Browse by subject, topic, year, and difficulty level to practice effectively.

Question

The most important fishing grounds of the world are found in the regions where

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: C — Warm and cold oceanic currents meetStep-by-step Solution:The world's most productive fishing grounds are located where warm and cold ocean currents converge. This is because of the following oceanographic process:When warm currents and cold currents meet, a phenomenon called upwelling occurs alongside mixing — cold water from deeper layers is brought to the surface, carrying nutrient-rich sediments (nitrates, phosphates) that have accumulated at depth. These nutrients fuel the growth of phytoplankton (microscopic marine algae), which form the base of the marine food chain. Abundant phytoplankton supports large populations of zooplankton, which in turn supports massive schools of fish.The world's three most productive fishing regions all occur where warm and cold currents meet: (1) Grand Banks (off Newfoundland, Canada) — where the cold Labrador Current meets the warm Gulf Stream; (2) North Sea — where the cold Norwegian Current meets the warm North Atlantic Drift; (3) Off Peru/Ecuador (Humboldt Current region) — cold Humboldt Current upwelling creates one of the world's richest fisheries.Why other options are incorrect:Option A (Warm and cold atmospheric currents): Atmospheric currents are wind patterns — they affect ocean surface and weather but do not directly create the underwater nutrient-rich conditions that support major fisheries. The term 'atmospheric currents' meeting does not define a specific oceanographic process for fisheries.Option B (Rivers drain freshwater into sea): River mouths (estuaries) do support productive fisheries locally through nutrient input. However, these are not the most important fishing grounds globally — the open ocean convergence zones of major ocean currents are far more productive at scale.Option D (Continental shelf is undulating): While continental shelves are important habitats (shallow, sunlit water supports benthic communities), the undulating nature of the shelf alone is not the primary factor in the world's most productive fishing grounds.Key Concept: Major fishing grounds and current convergences: Grand Banks (Newfoundland) — Gulf Stream + Labrador Current; Dogger Bank (North Sea) — North Atlantic Drift + Arctic currents; Georges Bank (NE USA) — Gulf Stream eddy effects; Japan's Sanriku coast — warm Kuroshio + cold Oyashio currents; Peru — Humboldt upwelling. The convergence mechanism: mixing brings cold, nutrient-rich deep water to the surface → phytoplankton bloom → zooplankton → small fish → large fish → top predators. This is why most major commercial fisheries (cod, herring, anchovy, tuna) are concentrated in convergence zones.

The most important fishing grounds of the world are found in the regions where

Master UPSC Prelims with Our Test Series

More Questions from Ocean Currents, Tides & El Nino / La Nina

Frequently Asked Questions

The most important fishing grounds of the world are found in the regions where

Master UPSC Prelims with Our Test Series

More Questions from Ocean Currents, Tides & El Nino / La Nina

Frequently Asked Questions