Overfishing is a form of
overexploitation where
fish stocks are reduced to below acceptable levels. Overfishing can occur in water bodies of any size, such as ponds, rivers, lakes or oceans, and can result in
resource depletion, reduced biological growth rates and low
biomass levels. Sustained overfishing can lead to
critical depensation, where the fish population is no longer able to sustain itself. Some forms of overfishing, for example the
overfishing of sharks, has led to the upset of entire marine ecosystems.