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2025
2025 Oct/Nov · Paper 21 · Q1 (b(i), b(ii), b(iii), c(i), c(ii), c(iii), d)10.8 marksFish types and catches · Fishing industry and sustainability · Fishing methods, ports and processing
2023
2023 Oct/Nov · Paper 21 · Q3 (c(i), c(ii), c(iii), d)8.4 marksFish types and catches · Fishing industry and sustainability · Fishing methods, ports and processing
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school. “Paper 42” means Paper 4, variant 2.
Practice questions
Original questions written by HomiLabs in the style of the exam, with answers and mark schemes. They are not
Cambridge past paper questions and have not been reviewed by Cambridge. Try each one before opening the answer.
Q1Fishing industry and sustainability · Core · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
(a)Name the two coastal provinces of Pakistan.[2]
(b)State two differences between marine fishing and inland fishing.[2]
(c)Explain why fishing is important to people living on the Makran coast.[2]
Show answer
(a) Sindh and Balochistan.
1 each.
(b) Marine fishing takes place in the sea (Arabian Sea) and inland fishing in rivers, lakes, reservoirs and fish ponds; marine catches are larger and include shrimp, tuna and pomfret, while inland catches are mainly freshwater species such as rohu and other carp.
1 per difference, max 2.
(c) There is little farmland or industry in this dry area, so fishing is the main source of jobs, income and food for coastal villages.
1 + 1 development.
Q2Fishing industry and sustainability · Core · Paper 2 style · 5 marks
(a)Define 'overfishing'.[1]
(b)Explain two causes of overfishing in Pakistan's coastal waters.[4]
Show answer
(a) Catching fish faster than the stock can reproduce, so numbers fall.
1 mark.
(b) Many more boats and modern trawlers now fish the same area, so the total catch has grown too large. Fine-mesh nets catch young fish before they breed, and regulations on mesh size and closed seasons are poorly enforced.
1 + 1 development each: too many boats/trawlers; fine-mesh nets / juvenile catch; weak enforcement; rising demand for export and fishmeal.
Q3Fishing industry and sustainability · Core · Paper 2 style · 5 marks
(a)What is aquaculture?[1]
(b)Explain two advantages of fish farming in Punjab.[4]
Show answer
(a) The farming of fish or shellfish in ponds, tanks or cages.
1 mark.
(b) Fish ponds can use land that is too waterlogged or saline for crops, giving farmers another source of income. Farmed fish provide a regular supply of protein for nearby cities without reducing wild stocks.
1 + 1 development each: uses poor land; extra income; reliable supply to cities; reduces pressure on rivers; uses canal/tube-well water.
Q4Fishing industry and sustainability · Core · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
(a)State two ways in which the fishing industry provides employment other than catching fish.[2]
(b)Explain two reasons why fish consumption per person in Pakistan is low compared with many countries.[4]
Show answer
(a) Any two: boat building and repair; net making; ice factories; processing (freezing, canning, drying); transport and marketing; fishmeal plants.
1 each.
(b) Many people live far from the coast and fresh fish is hard to transport without cold chains, so it is expensive inland. Meat and chicken are traditional preferences, and much of the best catch (shrimp, tuna) is exported.
1 + 1 development each: distance from coast; poor cold chain; food preference; high price; exports take the best catch.
Q5Fishing industry and sustainability · Standard · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
(a)Explain why mangrove forests in the Indus Delta are important for fishing.[4]
(b)State two reasons why the area of mangroves has decreased.[2]
Show answer
(a) Mangrove roots give shelter and food to young shrimp, crabs and fish, acting as nurseries before they move out to sea. Their loss therefore reduces future catches; mangroves also protect the coast from storms and erosion, protecting fishing villages.
(b) Any two: less fresh water and silt reaching the delta because of dams and barrages; cutting for fuelwood and fodder; camel grazing; pollution from Karachi; land reclamation for ports and housing.
1 each.
Q6Fishing industry and sustainability · Standard · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
A fishing cooperative in Keti Bandar recorded an average catch of 640 kg per boat per trip ten years ago and 480 kg per boat per trip this year (invented figures).
(a)Calculate the percentage fall in the catch per trip.[2]
(b)Explain two reasons for this fall.[4]
Show answer
(a) 640 − 480 = 160; 160 ÷ 640 × 100 = 25%.
M1; A1 25%.
(b) Overfishing and the use of fine-mesh nets have reduced the number of fish reaching breeding age. Less fresh water and silt reaching the delta, together with mangrove loss and pollution, have damaged breeding grounds.
1 + 1 development each.
Q7Fishing industry and sustainability · Standard · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
(a)Describe two ways in which water pollution affects fishing near Karachi.[2]
(b)Explain two measures that could make fishing in Pakistan more sustainable.[4]
Show answer
(a) Any two: untreated sewage and industrial waste kill fish or drive them away; contaminated fish are unsafe to eat or export; oil spills damage marine life; lower catches near the coast force boats to travel further.
1 each.
(b) Enforce a closed season during the main breeding months so that stocks can recover. Set and check a minimum mesh size so young fish escape, and limit the number of trawler licences.
Q8Fishing industry and sustainability · Standard · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
A boat owner in Pasni sells a catch of shrimp for Rs 2,200 per kg at the harbour. The same shrimp, once processed and frozen, are sold for export at a value equivalent to Rs 3,400 per kg.
(a)Calculate the percentage increase in value from harbour sale to export.[2]
(b)Explain two benefits to Pakistan of processing more seafood before export.[4]
(b) Processed products sell at a higher price, so Pakistan earns more foreign exchange from the same catch. Processing plants create jobs in packing, freezing and transport in coastal towns.
1 + 1 development each.
Q9Fishing industry and sustainability · Standard · Paper 2 style · 5 marks
(a)What is meant by 'by-catch'?[1]
(b)Explain two problems caused by by-catch in Pakistani waters.[4]
Show answer
(a) Unwanted fish and other sea creatures caught accidentally while fishing for target species.
1 mark.
(b) Young fish of valuable species are caught and turned into fishmeal for poultry feed, so they never grow to breed and future catches fall. Turtles, dolphins and sharks caught in gill nets may die, harming marine ecosystems.
1 + 1 development each.
Q10Fishing industry and sustainability · Challenge · Paper 2 style · 8 marks
(a)Explain why many small-scale fishermen in Pakistan remain poor.[4]
(b)'The fishing industry could make a much bigger contribution to Pakistan's economy.' Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.[4]
Show answer
(a) They often borrow money from middlemen to buy boats, nets and fuel and must then sell their catch to them at low prices. Small boats without ice or cold storage cannot travel far or keep fish fresh, so they catch less and sell lower-quality fish.
1 + 1 development each: debt to middlemen; low prices; small boats/poor equipment; lack of ice/cold storage; falling stocks; little education/alternative work.
(b) For: long coastline and large exclusive economic zone with unused deep-sea stocks; exports could grow with better hygiene and processing; aquaculture can expand inland; new harbours (Gwadar). Against: stocks already overfished near the coast; poor infrastructure; export markets demand strict standards; pollution and mangrove loss; limited investment. Judgement required.
Levels: L1 (1–2); L2 (3–4) both sides developed with judgement.
Q11Fishing industry and sustainability · Challenge · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
(a)Explain how the building of dams and barrages on the Indus has affected inland and delta fisheries.[4]
(b)Suggest two ways to protect river fish stocks.[2]
Show answer
(a) Barrages block the upstream migration of fish such as the palla (hilsa), which swims from the sea up the Indus to breed, so catches have fallen sharply. Reduced flow below Kotri brings less fresh water and nutrients to the delta, increasing salinity and harming mangroves and shrimp breeding.
1 + 1 development each. Credit reservoir fisheries (Tarbela, Mangla) as a positive point.
(b) Any two: fish ladders/passes at barrages; closed seasons in rivers; ban on poisoning and dynamite fishing; stocking rivers from hatcheries; reducing pollution.
1 each.
Q12Fishing methods, ports and processing · Core · Paper 2 style · 5 marks
(a)Name Pakistan's main fish harbour.[1]
(b)Name two fishing harbours on the Balochistan coast.[2]
(c)Give two reasons why most of the catch is landed at Karachi.[2]
Show answer
(a) Karachi Fish Harbour (West Wharf).
1 mark.
(b) Any two: Gwadar, Pasni, Ormara, Jiwani, Sonmiani (Damb).
1 each.
(c) Best facilities (auction halls, ice, cold storage, processing plants); large local market; good road, rail and air links for distribution and export (any two).
1 each.
Q13Fishing methods, ports and processing · Core · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
(a)Describe how a trawl net is used.[2]
(b)Explain two disadvantages of bottom trawling.[4]
Show answer
(a) A large cone-shaped net is dragged behind a boat, through the water or along the sea bed, catching fish and shrimp in its narrow end.
1 for net dragged by boat; 1 for detail (sea bed / cone shape).
(b) Dragging heavy nets along the sea bed destroys habitats such as coral, sea grass and breeding grounds. Trawls catch everything in their path, including young fish and other species, so there is a large wasteful by-catch.
1 + 1 development each.
Q14Fishing methods, ports and processing · Core · Paper 2 style · 5 marks
(a)State three ways in which fish are preserved or processed in Pakistan.[3]
(b)Explain why sun-drying of fish is common on the Makran coast.[2]
Show answer
(a) Any three: icing/chilling; freezing; canning; sun-drying; salting; smoking; making fishmeal or fish oil.
1 each.
(b) The hot, dry, sunny climate dries fish quickly, and villages are far from ice plants and markets, so drying is a cheap way to preserve fish without electricity.
1 + 1 development.
Q15Fishing methods, ports and processing · Core · Paper 2 style · 5 marks
(a)Name two methods used for inland fishing in rivers and lakes.[2]
(b)Name one large lake in Sindh important for inland fishing.[1]
(c)Explain why fishing in Manchar Lake has declined.[2]
Show answer
(a) Any two: cast nets; gill nets; hook and line; traps; seine nets from small boats.
1 each.
(b) Manchar Lake (or Keenjhar or Haleji).
1 mark.
(c) Polluted, saline drainage water flowing into the lake has killed fish and plants, so catches fell and many fishing families left.
1 + 1 development.
Q16Fishing methods, ports and processing · Standard · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
(a)Describe gill-net fishing.[2]
(b)Compare the methods used by traditional small-scale fishermen with those used by modern commercial fleets.[4]
Show answer
(a) A wall of net is hung in the water; fish swim into it and are trapped by their gills in the mesh.
1 + 1.
(b) Small-scale fishermen use small wooden boats (often with outboard engines), hand-hauled gill nets, cast nets and lines close to the shore, catching small amounts. Commercial fleets use large trawlers or long-liners with echo sounders, GPS and freezers, fishing further out for longer and catching much larger quantities.
1 per valid comparison, max 4; both sides needed.
Q17Fishing methods, ports and processing · Standard · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
Fish begin to spoil within hours in Pakistan's hot climate. A rule used on some boats is to carry about 1 kg of ice for every 1 kg of fish expected to be caught, plus 50% extra for a trip of more than two days.
(a)Calculate how much ice a boat should carry for a three-day trip if it expects to catch 1,800 kg of fish.[2]
(b)Explain two ways in which better handling and storage would increase fishermen's incomes.[4]
Show answer
(a) 1,800 × 1 = 1,800 kg; + 50% = 2,700 kg.
M1; A1 2,700 kg.
(b) Fish kept on ice stay fresh and fetch higher prices, especially for export. Less fish is wasted or sold cheaply as fishmeal, so more of the catch earns money.
1 + 1 development each.
Q18Fishing methods, ports and processing · Standard · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
(a)Explain why Gwadar has potential to become an important fishing port.[4]
(b)State two problems that limit the fishing industry in Gwadar today.[2]
Show answer
(a) It lies on the Makran coast, close to rich fishing grounds of the Arabian Sea, and already has a fishing community. Investment in its deep-sea port and road links under CPEC could provide modern harbours, processing plants and transport for exports.
1 + 1 development each.
(b) Any two: shortage of fresh water and electricity; limited cold storage and processing; distance from large markets; competition from large trawlers; limited local skills/investment.
1 each.
Q19Fishing methods, ports and processing · Standard · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
(a)Describe long-line fishing.[2]
(b)Explain why fishing activity off the Pakistan coast is reduced in June and July.[4]
Show answer
(a) A very long main line with many baited hooks on short branch lines is set from a boat and left in the water, then hauled in.
1 + 1.
(b) The south-west monsoon brings strong winds and very rough seas, making it dangerous for small boats to go out. It is also the main breeding season for shrimp and many fish, so a closed season is declared to protect stocks.
1 + 1 development each.
Q20Fishing methods, ports and processing · Challenge · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
(a)Explain why some export markets have rejected Pakistani seafood in the past.[4]
(b)Suggest two improvements at fish harbours that would help increase exports.[2]
Show answer
(a) Fish was often handled in unhygienic conditions on boats and at harbours, with dirty decks and too little ice, so bacteria levels were high. Processing plants did not always meet the strict food-safety and traceability standards demanded by importers such as the European Union.
1 + 1 development each: poor hygiene on boats; poor harbour conditions; lack of cold chain; standards/traceability not met.
(b) Any two: clean, covered auction halls; more ice and cold-storage plants; clean water supply and drainage; training for fishermen; quality testing laboratories; better roads to processing plants.
1 each.
Q21Fishing methods, ports and processing · Challenge · Paper 2 style · 4 marks
A small company in Ormara operates 12 boats. In one month each boat makes 18 trips and lands an average of 350 kg of mixed fish per trip, sold at an average of Rs 260 per kg.
(a)Calculate the total monthly catch in tonnes.[2]
(b)Calculate the company's total monthly income from the catch.[1]
(c)Suggest one reason why income may vary greatly from month to month.[1]
Show answer
(a) 12 × 18 × 350 = 75,600 kg = 75.6 tonnes.
M1; A1 75.6 tonnes.
(b) 75,600 × 260 = Rs 19,656,000.
B1 Rs 19,656,000.
(c) Rough seas/storms during the south-west monsoon stop boats going out; closed season; fish migrate; prices change (any one).
1 mark.
Q22Fishing methods, ports and processing · Challenge · Paper 2 style · 8 marks
(a)Explain two advantages of using modern technology such as echo sounders and GPS on fishing boats.[4]
(b)'Modern fishing technology is a threat to fish stocks in Pakistan.' Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.[4]
Show answer
(a) Echo sounders locate shoals of fish under the boat, so less time and fuel are wasted searching. GPS lets crews find good fishing grounds again and navigate safely back to harbour in bad weather.
1 + 1 development each.
(b) Threat: larger catches with less effort; bottom trawling damages habitats; freezers allow long trips and more fishing. Not a threat if managed: technology can monitor boats, help enforce zones and closed seasons, and select target species to reduce by-catch; the real problem is weak regulation. Judgement required.
Levels: L1 (1–2); L2 (3–4) both sides developed with judgement.
Q23Fish types and catches · Core · Paper 2 style · 5 marks
(a)Name two marine species that are important for Pakistan's seafood exports.[2]
(b)Name two freshwater fish caught or farmed in Pakistan.[2]
(c)Name Pakistan's national fish.[1]
Show answer
(a) Any two: shrimp/prawns; tuna; pomfret; lobster; crab; squid/cuttlefish; mackerel.
1 each.
(b) Any two: rohu; thaila (catla); mori (mrigal); mahseer; trout; tilapia; palla (hilsa) in the lower Indus.
1 each.
(c) The mahseer.
1 mark.
Q24Fish types and catches · Core · Paper 2 style · 4 marks
(a)In which parts of Pakistan is trout found?[2]
(b)Explain why trout cannot live in the rivers of the plains.[2]
Show answer
(a) In cold, fast-flowing, clear streams and rivers of the northern mountains, e.g. Swat, Kaghan, Chitral, Gilgit.
1 for cold mountain streams; 1 for named area.
(b) Trout need cold, clear water with plenty of dissolved oxygen; river water in the plains is too warm and muddy in summer.
1 + 1 development.
Q25Fish types and catches · Core · Paper 2 style · 4 marks
(a)Why is shrimp catching concentrated off the Sindh coast near the Indus Delta?[3]
(b)Name one fish product made from small, low-value fish.[1]
Show answer
(a) The shallow waters and creeks of the delta, with mangrove forests, provide breeding and nursery grounds for shrimp; nutrients brought by the river support food for them; the continental shelf is wide there.
1 per point, max 3.
(b) Fishmeal (for poultry/animal feed) or fish oil.
1 mark.
Q26Fish types and catches · Standard · Paper 2 style · 4 marks
The marine catch landed by one harbour in a year was made up as follows (percentage by weight, invented figures): Shrimp 18%; Tuna and mackerel 24%; Sardines 30%; Pomfret and croakers 12%; Others 16%.
(a)Calculate the angle of the sector for shrimp if the data were drawn as a pie chart.[1]
(b)Shrimp is a small part of the catch by weight but the largest part by value. Suggest two reasons.[2]
(c)Suggest why sardines make up a large share of the catch by weight.[1]
Show answer
(a) 18 ÷ 100 × 360 = 64.8°.
B1 64.8°.
(b) Shrimp sells at a much higher price per kg than other fish; there is strong export demand; it is processed (frozen) for overseas markets.
1 each.
(c) They live in large shoals near the surface and are easily caught in large quantities by purse seine nets (much used for fishmeal).
1 mark.
Q27Fish types and catches · Standard · Paper 2 style · 4 marks
A fish pond in Muzaffargarh produced 1,450 kg of carp per hectare per year using traditional methods. After the farmer added aerators and better feed, production rose to 2,340 kg per hectare per year.
(a)Calculate the percentage increase. Give your answer to the nearest whole number.[2]
(b)Name two kinds of carp commonly farmed in Pakistan.[2]
Show answer
(a) 890 ÷ 1,450 × 100 = 61.4% ≈ 61%.
M1; A1 61%.
(b) Any two: rohu, thaila (catla), mori (mrigal), silver carp, grass carp, common carp.
1 each.
Q28Fish types and catches · Standard · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
(a)Describe the life cycle of the palla (hilsa) that makes it vulnerable.[2]
(b)Explain why palla catches in Sindh have fallen.[4]
Show answer
(a) It lives in the sea but migrates up the Indus into fresh water to breed, so it must pass through the river delta and barrages.
1 + 1.
(b) Kotri Barrage and reduced river flow block the fish's migration route, so far fewer can reach breeding areas upstream. Low freshwater flow, pollution and overfishing of fish before they spawn have also reduced the population.
1 + 1 development each.
Q29Fish types and catches · Challenge · Paper 2 style · 8 marks
Estimated fish production in a coastal region (thousand tonnes, invented figures):Year: 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024Marine: 460, 445, 430, 418, 405Inland (including farms): 150, 162, 175, 190, 204
(a)Calculate the total production in 2016 and in 2024.[2]
(b)Calculate inland production as a percentage of the total in 2024, to 1 decimal place.[2]
(c)Describe the trends shown and suggest one reason for each.[4]
(c) Marine production fell steadily (460 → 405) – overfishing / habitat loss / pollution. Inland production rose steadily (150 → 204) – growth of fish farming / government support. Total stayed almost the same.
1 for each trend with data, 1 for each matching reason.
Q30Fish types and catches · Challenge · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
(a)Explain why tuna is caught mainly in deeper offshore waters, while shrimp is caught close to the shore.[4]
(b)Suggest why the value of Pakistan's fish exports can change greatly from year to year.[2]
Show answer
(a) Tuna are large, fast-swimming fish that migrate through the open ocean, so they are found in deep offshore waters and are caught by gill nets and long lines from larger boats. Shrimp live on the shallow sea bed and in creeks near the delta, so they are caught by trawling in coastal waters.
1 + 1 development for each species.
(b) Changes in catch size (weather, stock levels); changes in world prices or demand; export bans or rejections on quality grounds; exchange-rate changes (any two).
1 each.
Similar questions
Questions that test the same subtopic in different years, grouped so you can work on one skill at a time.
References only: find each question in its paper (official link where available, otherwise through your school).
Fishing industry and sustainabilityRare2 questions · 2/9 sessions
