In oceanography, an ocean bank is an undersea feature defined by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) as “an elevation of the sea floor, over which the depth of water is relatively shallow, but sufficient for safe surface navigation."

Upwelling phenomena

Ocean banks, sometimes called fishing banks, can manifest as a shoal or the top of an underwater hill. Similar to continental slopes, ocean banks slopes can upwell as tidal, as other sea currents intercept these upwellings, frequently resulting in nutrient rich currents. Therefore, some larger banks, such as the Dogger Bank or the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, are among the richest fishing grounds in the world; however, in the last decades the Grand Banks of Newfoundland are significantly overfished, so that some fisheries such as cod have virtually collapsed.

Further reading

• Morelock, J. (2005). Morphology. Geological Oceanography Program, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
• Physical Oceanography Index