What does overharvesting refer to?

Overharvesting refers to the practice of exploiting a population beyond its capacity to replenish, which is precisely what option B states. This occurs when the rate at which a resource is removed from the environment exceeds the natural rate of regeneration, leading to a decline in the population or the resource itself. Such practices can lead to significant ecological imbalances, threatening species survival and biodiversity.

Sustainable practices, which aim to ensure that populations can replenish themselves, are contrasted with overharvesting. While catching fish and harvesting crops are part of natural resource use, when done without sustainable limits, they can contribute to overharvesting. In essence, overharvesting compromises the viability of the ecosystem and the species within it, creating long-term consequences that can be detrimental.