European Union Forums

[ArlineDWilliams]

explain why the relatively warm open atlantic ocean waters are practically deserts compared to the world's richest fishing grounds. Be sure to discuss oxygen and nutrients.

[StrongandVirile]

ok the open ocean tends to be nutrient poor as nutrients in the water column are often from run off from land. higher temperatures also reduce the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water column. the open ocean lacks the turbidity and mixing which keep the water in shallower coastal regions nutrient and oxygen rich. the lack of nutrients and oxygen make the open ocean a poor breeding ground for planktonic organisms which are the basis of most marine food webs. So the most abundant fishing grounds tend to be in regions of high surface productivity, areas where there is large concentrations of plankton for the fish to feed on.

hope that helps