Fisheries

The Atlantic is rich in food fish, particularly in the shallow waters of the continental shelf. Here, conditions are favorable to the growth of plankton, the microorganisms that form the basic food of marine life.

The northeast Atlantic Ocean is by far the leading fishery. Especially important are the North and Norwegian seas. Species taken in large amounts here include herring, cod, mackerel, whiting, pollock, and capelin. Overfishing has depleted some formerly abundant Atlantic fisheries, including the Grand Banks, off Newfoundland.

Whaling was formerly important in far North Atlantic and adjacent Arctic waters. As the supply here became depleted, the industry shifted to South Atlantic and other Antarctic waters.