Which of the following statements with regard to the continental shelf is NOT correct ?

The continental shelf is a gently sloping seaward extension of a continental plate [1]. Statement 1 is incorrect because shelves are not entirely absent near plate boundaries; rather, they are typically very narrow or restricted along active margins, such as the coasts of Chile and Sumatra. Statement 2 is correct as shelves represent areas of extensive deposition, often underlain by thick layers of sediment from river systems [2]. Statement 3 is correct because the shelf typically ends at the shelf break, where there is an abrupt change in gradient to a steep continental slope [3]. Statement 4 is correct as shallow waters allow sunlight penetration, and nutrient-rich runoff makes these regions highly productive fishing grounds [4].

Sources

1. [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 31: Ocean Relief > Continental Shelf > p. 479
2. [2] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 12: Water (Oceans) > Continental Shelf > p. 101
3. [3] Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: The Oceans > The Relief of the Ocean > p. 106
4. [4] https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/continental-shelf/