Question

A survey conducted in the North Sea showed that herring are being harvested below the rate they can reproduce. How would this resource be classified? Renewable Nonrenewable Potentially renewable Primarily nonrenewable

Answer 1

A renewable resource is that which can be replenished. It can be used continuously as it is naturally replaced. Solar energy, wind energy and hydro energy are some types of renewable resources.

A non renewable resource cannot be easily replenished. Natural gas, coal and other fossil fuels are examples of non renewable resources.

A potentially renewable resource can be replaced in a period of few weeks to several hundreds of years. Lakes, forest trees, soils come under potentially renewable resources.

In the given survey, the rate of harvesting of Herring is lower than the reproduction rate of the Herring. So, the production rate is greater than the consumption rate. Therefore, the Herring sea can be considered as a potentially renewable resource.

Answer 2

Based on the result given above from the survey conducted in the North Sea, I can say that the herring being harvested here is an example of a potentially renewable resources. When we say potentially renewable resource, this is the kind of resource that renews naturally but would take time perhaps decades. Other examples of this include forest trees and fresh lakes. Hope this helps.