One way to determine whether a population is being overharvested is to determine when it is no longer sustainable-that is, when the population is being harvested faster than it can be replaced by its natural rate of reproduction.In the case of an exploited ocean fishery, an observer would first become aware that the fishery is being overharvested when fish biomass
A) increases but the fish caught are smaller.
B) drops to near zero and the fishery collapses.
C) remains the same every year, even though fish are being harvested.
D) declines every year, even though the harvest rate remains the same.
E) declines every year, but only if the harvest rate increases.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Option D suggests that the population declines every year, even though the harvest rate remains the same. This indicates that the natural rate of reproduction is not enough to replace the number of fish being harvested, indicating overharvesting. The other options either do not suggest overharvesting or do not necessarily indicate unsustainability.

One Way to Determine Whether a Population Is Being Overharvested