Overfishing is a global problem in which humans harvest certain species of fish, almost to the point of extinction. Many of the
fish stocks depleted by overfishing are at the top of the food chain. Why would the overfishing of very large fish cause a decrease in the numbers of small fish? The small fish are more likely to die from diseases and parasites.
The small fish live in a mutualistic relationship with the large fish.
The small fish have a greater number of medium-sized predators.
The small fish must compete with each other for fewer food sources.
