Band 9: The table below shows trends in captures of sea and ocean fish over a ten-year period. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

The table illustrates changes in the amount of marine fish captured in different world regions over two time periods: 1989-1991 and 1999-2001.

Overall, most regions experienced an increase in fish capture over the ten-year span, with Asia recording the highest figures in both periods. In contrast, Europe and North America were the only areas that saw a decline.

Asia, excluding the Middle East, produced by far the largest quantities, rising from about 25,400 to over 28,000 thousand metric tonnes. South America also showed a moderate increase, from roughly 14,400 to 15,200. Other regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, and Oceania experienced noticeable growth, with Oceania’s total increasing from 602 to 944.

On the other hand, Europe’s fishing output fell significantly from 18,032 to 14,315, while North America dropped from just over 5,000 to about 4,000. Central America and the Caribbean remained relatively stable, with a slight decline.

In short, global marine fish capture shifted upward overall, despite notable regional decreases.