The Grand Banks are among the world most famous fishing grounds. In which of the following ocean regions are the Grand Banks located?

Introduction / Context:
Fishing grounds and continental shelf areas are important topics in economic and physical geography. The Grand Banks are one of the best known fishing regions and often appear in exam questions. This question asks you to identify which part of the world ocean the Grand Banks belong to, testing your knowledge of North Atlantic geography and marine resources.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The place named is the Grand Banks, noted as famous fishing grounds.
• We must choose the correct ocean region from options that specify directions within the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
• Options include north west and south east Pacific, and north west and north east Atlantic.
• We assume familiarity with the location of Newfoundland and the North Atlantic continental shelf.

Concept / Approach:
The Grand Banks lie off the coast of Newfoundland in eastern Canada, where the cold Labrador Current meets the warmer Gulf Stream. This mixing of currents and the shallow continental shelf make the region very productive for marine life, creating rich fishing grounds. Newfoundland and the adjacent shelf are located in the north west part of the Atlantic Ocean when viewed from a global perspective. Therefore, the Grand Banks are in the north west Atlantic, not in the Pacific or the north east Atlantic regions given in the other options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Newfoundland is in eastern Canada fronting the Atlantic Ocean, and that the Grand Banks lie just off its coast. Step 2: Recognise that this area is part of the North Atlantic Ocean on the western side, near North America. Step 3: Understand that the term north west Atlantic refers to the sector of the North Atlantic near the north east coast of North America. Step 4: The north east Atlantic, by contrast, would refer to waters closer to western Europe. Step 5: The Pacific Ocean options cannot be correct because the Grand Banks are firmly in the Atlantic basin, not the Pacific. Step 6: Therefore, the correct regional label for the Grand Banks is north west Atlantic Ocean.

Verification / Alternative check:
Maps that depict major fishing grounds show the Grand Banks on the continental shelf off Newfoundland, intersected by the Labrador Current flowing south and the Gulf Stream flowing north. This location is clearly on the western side of the North Atlantic, near Canada. Textbook explanations of rich fishing grounds list the Grand Banks of Newfoundland together with other north Atlantic shelf areas, confirming that they belong to the north west Atlantic region rather than any Pacific or far eastern Atlantic area.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• North west Pacific Ocean: This would refer to waters near east Asia or Alaska, which is not where the Grand Banks are located.
• South east Pacific Ocean: This refers to waters off western South America and is unrelated to the Canadian fishing grounds.
• North east Atlantic Ocean: This would be closer to western Europe, not off the Canadian coast.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may see the word Banks and think of fishing grounds near Europe or confuse directions on the world map. Others may not be sure whether Newfoundland lies in the north west or north east Atlantic. The simplest way to avoid confusion is to remember that from a global viewpoint, North America lies on the western side of the Atlantic, so continental shelf areas off Canada and the United States belong to the north west Atlantic region.

Final Answer:
The Grand Banks are famous fishing grounds located in the north west Atlantic Ocean region.