OCR A-Level Geography Geographical debates (03), June 2025: Question 16

Question Answer Mark Guidance

Evaluate the extent to which the use of biological ocean Indicative content

resources will ever be sustainable.

AO1 – 9 marks

AO1 Demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the use of

Level 4 (7–9 marks) biological ocean resources could potentially include:

Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge and understanding • Tragedy of the commons.

of the use of biological ocean resources. • Renewable biological ocean resources e.g. krill, whales,

fish

Level 3 (5–6 marks) • Use and management of resources, resilience of

Demonstrates thorough knowledge and understanding of the resources and key thresholds for sustainable use.

use of biological ocean resources. • Management of oceans e.g. EEZ, EFZ, Marine reserves,

MPAs.

Level 2 (3–4 marks)

Demonstrates reasonable knowledge and understanding of the Use of non-biological resources e.g. oil are not accepted.

use of biological ocean resources.

AO2 – 24 marks

Level 1 (1–2 marks) Application of knowledge and understanding to analyse and

Demonstrates basic knowledge and understanding of the use evaluate the extent to which the use of biological ocean resources

of biological ocean resources. will ever be sustainable could potentially include:

0 marks • Widely recognised that an ‘ecosystem’ approach to

No response or no response worthy of credit. management is most effective as it recognises the

interconnectedness of an environment e.g. CCAMLR.

AO2

• Increasing use made of satellite technology to monitor vast

Level 4 (19–24 marks)

ocean areas

Demonstrates comprehensive application of knowledge and

• Krill in Southern Ocean. CCAMLR set up in 1982 –

understanding to provide a clear, developed and convincing

generally considered effective in its management of

analysis that is fully accurate of the use of biological ocean

marine resources. Helped develop Marine Protected Areas

resources.

(MPAs) e.g. Ross Sea; combatted illegal fishing; reduced

sea bird by-catch levels; rebuilding fish stocks e.g.

Demonstrates comprehensive application of knowledge and

toothfish

understanding to provide a detailed and substantiated

evaluation that offers secure judgements leading to rational • International Whaling Commission (IWC) – history of

conclusions that are evidence based as to the extent to which success – 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling → ↑ in

the use of biological ocean resources will ever be sustainable. some species numbers e.g. sperm, blue and humpback.

• Fish - Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certify fisheries

Relevant concepts are authoritatively discussed. that meet sustainability standards. Some fisheries seem to

Mark Scheme be sustainable e.g. cod in NE Atlantic (Barents Sea andJune 2025

Level 3 (13–18 marks) Iceland). Local scale examples of success e.g. Cornish

Demonstrates thorough application of knowledge and hake + Shetland brown crabfisheriesassessedat‘healthy’.Some two thirds of tunalevelse.g.skipjack+

understanding to provide a clear and developed analysis that41 yellowfin stocks.

shows accuracy of the use of biological ocean resources. • Challenge to police ocean areas simply due to vastness

of ocean spaces and extreme weather and sea

Demonstrates thorough application of knowledge and conditions.

understanding to provide a detailed evaluation that offers • Need to distinguish amongst different populations of the

generally secure judgements, with some link between rational same species in different locations. Can be mis-leading

conclusions as to the extent to which the use of biological ocean to talk about a species in general.

resources will ever be sustainable. • Krill - acoustic surveys suggest severe decline (80%)

since 1970s, supporting boom and bust theories. Only 5

Relevant concepts are discussed but this may lack some countries harvest krill, Norway accounts for ½ annual

authority. catch – non-sustainable so far, desire for wider political

pressure less as most of the world not involved. Krill

Level 2 (7–12 marks) trawlers have limited space where they can operate, so

Demonstrates reasonable application of knowledge and sustainably fishing over a large area is unlikely to be

understanding to provide a sound analysis that shows some achievable.

accuracy of the use of biological ocean resources. • Whales – some populations continue to be ‘endangered

e.g. North Pacific Right and others recovering very slowly

Demonstrates reasonable application of knowledge and e.g. some bowhead populations. IWC subject to much

understanding to provide a sound evaluation that offers political ‘back and forth’ with some whaling nations

generalised judgements and conclusions, with limited use of claiming their current whaling is for ‘scientific purposes’

evidence as to the extent to which the use of biological ocean e.g. Norway.

resources will ever be sustainable. • Fisheries – North Sea cod are identified by most

scientists as being fished unsustainably especially in

Concepts are discussed but their use lacks precision. southern regions. Some tuna populations are also over-

fished.

Level 1 (1–6 marks)

Demonstrates basic application of knowledge and

understanding to provide a simple analysis that shows limited

accuracy of the use of biological ocean resources.

Demonstrates basic application of knowledge and

understanding to provide an un-supported evaluation that offers

simple conclusions as to the extent to which the use of biological

ocean resources will ever be sustainable.

Concepts are not discussed or are so inaccurately.

0 marks Mark Scheme June 2025

No response or no response worthy of credit.

Quality of extended response Level 4 42

There is a well-developed line of reasoning which is clear and

logically structured. The information presented is relevant and

substantiated.

Level 3

There is a line of reasoning presented with some structure. The

information presented is in the most-part relevant and supported

by some evidence.

Level 2

The information has some relevance and is presented with

limited structure. The information is supported by limited

evidence.

Level 1

The information is basic and communicated in an unstructured

way. The information is supported by limited evidence and the

relationship to the evidence may not be clear.