Using map evidence, describe two depositional landforms found on this coastline.

Explain how one geopolitical conflict has developed in relation to a named oceanic resource.

“The fishing industry can never be sustainable.” Discuss this statement.

Award [1 mark] for identifying each landform and [1 mark] for development/description provided map evidence is used (may use: names, scale, grid reference, compass bearing, etc). For example, award [2 marks] for “the map shows a spit approximately 8 km long”.

The map includes:

• spit (barrier island/bar)
• beach
• dunes
• marsh
• mudflats.

Likely resources could include oil, gas and/or fish. However, other resources are equally valid, for example, manganese, gold, diamonds, gravel. Award [1 mark] for the resource that is shown to be a cause for conflict.

For example, for oil, some may use the Falklands/Las Malvinas, Rockall or North Sea as their chosen conflict/conflict area, or Australia/East Timor. In each case, the countries involved in any dispute should be identified [1 mark] for the resource that is shown to be a cause for conflict. The remaining [4 marks] should be awarded for the explanation of how and/or why the conflict developed, or was subsequently managed/developed.

Overfishing occurs widely within the industry. Overfishing occurs when catches exceed the maximum sustainable yield for any year or other period of time. It occurs because fishing technology has become too mechanized/large-scale, such as with the use of factory ships and on-board technology such as sonar (used routinely to locate fish). The growing demand for fish as incomes rise in emerging economies means pressures are only increasing for higher yields.

However, remedies designed to conserve fish stocks and make fishing more sustainable include:

• increasing mesh size and discouraging the catch/marketing of juvenile fish
• reducing the fishing yields by restricting time spent at sea, or length of fishing season, or the size and number of boats
• imposing fishing permits, quotas (for example, EU’s Common Fisheries Policy) and import tariffs
• satellite and logbook surveillance and penalties for illegal landings.

Candidates are not expected to include all of these, the relevance of which depends on the example chosen.

At band D, responses are likely to be descriptive of the problems of sustainable fishing.

At bands E/F candidates need to consider how fishing can become more sustainable, and at band F there should be a clear conclusion.

Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.