The graph shows the global production of fish from coastal aquaculture and ocean fishing between 1980 and 2015.

(i) Describe what is meant by the term “aquaculture”.

(ii) Describe the trends in coastal aquaculture shown on the graph.

(i) Briefly outline the sovereignty rights of nations in relation to oceanic resources.
 

(ii) Explain how oceanic resources are the cause of one geopolitical conflict.

Compare the importance of coastal processes and lithology for the formation of two or more coastal features.

(i)

Raising aquatic organisms commercially/fish farming [1]. This is common in coastal margins / gives a locational example [1]. Other valid points may be credited.

(ii)

Award up to [2] for any two points made, provided at least one point has been quantified.

For example:
Aquaculture begins at a very low level and has increased dramatically since the 1980s [1].
Over the period aquaculture has grown from about 5 million tonnes to 70 (allow 68–70) million tonnes [1].

(i)

Award [1] for a statement about sovereignty rights, and a further [1] for further development/exemplification (eg resource and nation).

For example:
Coastal countries may claim exclusive/sole rights over oceanic resources in their own coastal waters [1].
Oil fields off the coast of Nigeria [1].

(ii)

Award [1] for the identification of the countries involved in the conflict and the nature of the conflict.

Award [1] for extended description of where/when the conflict arose, for example Japan and Korea’s claims over the Sea of Japan / East Sea date back to the Second World War.

Award a further [2] for the explanation of why this resource is the cause of conflict.

The explanation may focus on the changing value of the resource, changes in accessibility, eg thinning of Arctic ice, multiple claims on the same area by neighbours, provides greater detail of why an area of sea floor does not fall into the EEZ of only one particular country.

For example: There is ongoing conflict between the UK and Argentina over the UK’s claim to the sea around the Falkland Islands (Las Malvinas) [1]. There was war at one point in the 1980s [1]. The sovereignty dispute is partly related to substantial reserves of oil in the region [1]. This oil could be worth more as global demand rises so the conflict may continue [1].

Coastal processes include wave action (erosion, transport and deposition), wind action, littoral drift, and subaerial processes (weathering, eg salt crystal growth, and mass movement, eg slumping).

Coastal features include erosional landforms such as cliffs and wave-cut platforms, as well as depositional landforms such as spits and bars.

Lithology, in its broadest sense, refers to rock properties eg strength, hardness, permeability (jointing) and chemical composition. Rocks can generally be divided into relatively strong and relatively weak rocks. Lithology may be relatively unimportant for some depositional features (eg sand dunes and salt marshes) whereas it is very important for the development of cliffs and marine (wave-cut) platforms.

Good candidates will recognize that most coastal landforms are the result of the interplay of coastal process and lithology. For example, a high energy coast acting on a strong, jointed rock may produce caves, arches, stacks and stumps.

At band D, expect some description of two features/landforms, and some reasons for their formation.

At band E, expect either greater explanation of how coastal processes and lithology (do not expect balance) give rise to coastal landforms/features or some explicit comparison of their importance.

At band F expect both.

Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.

(i) Although the term aquaculture was often understood, few developed the point further.  

(ii) There was inability to read the graph correctly and inaccurate quantification was often given. Many quantified using total, rather than aquaculture, figures.

(i) Few problems.  

(ii) Most were able to explain one relevant geopolitical conflict.

This was often poorly answered, showing limited understanding of coastal processes and lithology and their relation to landforms. Answers were often descriptive and omitted reference to lithology. The comparison of relative importance was often weak.