Final answer:
The severe source of pollution from salmon harvesting farms is generally categorized as a point source of pollution, where untreated waste from these farms can lead to eutrophication and dead zones in water bodies. Preventative measures include reducing waste and properly treating waste to preserve aquatic health.
Step-by-step explanation:
The severe source of pollution from salmon harvesting farms is considered a point source of pollution. This type of pollution can come from concentrated feeding operations (CFOs), which are large-scale animal farming operations.
In these situations, a high density of livestock is raised, and untreated animal waste can be a major contributor to water pollution when it enters nearby waterbodies.
Specifically for salmon farms, the waste produced by the fish, uneaten feed, and potential chemical contaminants can lead to the degradation of water quality, affecting the local ecosystem and causing issues such as eutrophication and reduction of oxygen levels in water bodies.
This process can create dead zones where aquatic life cannot survive due to low oxygen levels. Furthermore, pollutants can travel up the food chain, posing risks to human health when contaminated fish are consumed.
Measures such as reducing fertilizer use, preserving wetlands, and proper waste treatment can help prevent this type of pollution.