If Fishing Effort Goes Up and the Landings are the Same

Question

If fishing effort goes up and the landings are the same, then
A) Stock size must have declined
B) Stock size must have increased
C) Stock size may have remained the same
D) The premise of increased effort with similar landings is impossible

Accepted Answer

If fishing effort increases but the landings (the amount of fish caught) remain the same, it suggests that there are fewer fish available to catch, indicating that the stock size must have declined. This is because more effort would typically result in more catch if the stock size were stable or increasing.