Graphing Annual Fish Catches in Peru, 1960-1995


Rationale/Objectives/Purpose:
1.  To provide practice at (a) estimating numbers, (b) graphing numbers, and (c) interpreting a graph.  2.  To show the relationship of an El Niño event and fish catches in Peru.
Time Required
35 minutes
Safety Issues:
None.
Materials:


Fish Catches in Peru, 1960-1995
Taken from:  Statistical Yearbooks, published by the United Nations

Fish Catches (in 1000s of metric tons)
 
 
Year Catch Year Catch
1960 3569.1 1978 3442.8
1961 5291.0 1979 3652.1
1962 6957.5 1980 2708.6
1963 6899.0 1981 2717.2
1964 9321.6 1982 3513.2
1965 7631.9 1983 1569.5
1966 8844.5 1984 3317.5
1967 10198.6 1985 4135.7
1968 10555.5 1986 5616.3
1969 9243.6 1987 4587.6
1970 12612.9 1988 6641.8
1971 10606.1 1989 6853.9
1972 4768.3 1990 6875.1
1973 2299.3 1991 6888.2
1974 4144.9 1992 7502.9
1975 3447.5 1993 9009.9
1976 4343.1 1994 11996.7
1977 2530.0 1995 8948.2

Procedures:
Students round off the numbers to the nearest hundreds, and then graph the data and answer the questions below.
Assessment:
1.  In which two years did Peru have the greatest fish catches?
2.  In which two years did Peru have the least fish catches?
3.  Recently, El Niño events have occurred in 1965-66, 72-73, 82-83, 91-92, 94-95, and 97-98.
    a.  Which El Niño years showed a decrease in fish catches?
    b.  Which El Niño years did not show a decrease in fish catches?
    c.  For which El Niño years are no data available?
4.  What are some other reasons why the fish catch size may increase or decrease (besides an El Niño event).
Extensions:
Create the graph yourself and use it for a graph-reading activity.