Question

What have ecological surveys shown about how the fishermen manage lake resources?

A) Fishermen have overexploited the lake resources.
B) Fishermen have implemented sustainable resource management practices.
C) Fishermen rely on external interventions for resource management.
D) Ecological surveys did not yield any significant findings about resource management.

Answer 1

Ecological surveys indicate that fishermen have overexploited lake resources, a situation described by the tragedy of the commons. Regulatory measures like sustainable fishing practices and catch shares exist, yet overharvesting remains a threat.

Step-by-step explanation:

Ecological surveys have shown that fishermen have overexploited lake resources. The phenomenon, known as the tragedy of the commons, explains that without ownership, fishers have little incentive to restrain their harvesting activities, leading to overexploitation. This issue has been seen in cases like the western Atlantic cod fishery, which collapsed despite being a productive industry for 400 years. The use of modern technology such as factory trawlers and open, unregulated access has exacerbated the problem. Although there are regulations and management practices like sustainable fishing limits and the implementation of catch shares to address these problems, overharvesting continues to be a significant threat to aquatic species and ecosystems.