Final answer:
The decline in the North American Cod Stocks can be attributed to overfishing, particularly due to the introduction of modern factory trawlers in the 1980s.
Step-by-step explanation:
The collapse of the North American Cod Stocks can be attributed to overfishing. Historically, the Atlantic Ocean off Canada and the Northeast of the US has been some of the richest fishing grounds. Huge factory ships developed in the 1960s caused a surge in fishing efforts, leading to the overexploitation of cod populations. The introduction of modern factory trawlers in the 1980s further intensified the pressure on the fishery, making it unsustainable and causing the collapse of the cod population.