Which of the following is most likely the greatest contributing factor to the declining Atlantic cod populations?

Question 17 options:

overfishing

legal regulations

increasing reproductive capacity

water temperature

Atlantic cod is a benthopelagic fish that is consumed primarily by humans. These are commercially known as codling. From the given choices, legal regulations and increasing reproductive capacity are both beneficial to the population of the cod. The water temperature is also likely to affect the population but not as much as overfishing does. Therefore, the answer is the first choice.