China's fishing industry is

(1 point)
prospering due to the many efforts to maintain the water's purity.
steadily declining due to increases in demand, which exceeds the quantity of fish that are reproduced annually.
steadily declining due to pollutants being dumped into the water without government regulation.
steadily declining because Chinese peasants are using water to bathe and wash dirty clothes.

The correct answer is:

steadily declining due to increases in demand, which exceeds the quantity of fish that are reproduced annually.

The correct answer is: steadily declining due to increases in demand, which exceeds the quantity of fish that are reproduced annually.

To determine the answer, we can eliminate options that do not align with the information and rely on the remaining option. Let's analyze each option:

Option 1: Prosperity due to efforts to maintain water purity
This option suggests that China's fishing industry is thriving because of efforts to maintain water purity. However, the question asks about the decline of the fishing industry, so this option can be eliminated.

Option 2: Declining due to increases in demand
This option suggests that the fishing industry is declining because of increased demand that surpasses the annual fish reproduction rate. While this could be a possibility, we should consider the other options as well.

Option 3: Declining due to pollutants without government regulation
This option implies that the fishing industry is declining due to the presence of pollutants being dumped into the water without any government regulation. This could be a potential reason, but it is not the only option to consider.

Option 4: Declining because peasants are using water for daily activities
This option suggests that the decline is caused by Chinese peasants using water for bathing and washing clothes. While this might be a factor affecting water availability, it is unlikely to be the sole reason for the decline of the fishing industry.

Considering the options, the most plausible answer is option 2: China's fishing industry is steadily declining due to an increase in demand that exceeds the quantity of fish that are reproduced annually. However, it is important to note that other factors such as pollution and lack of regulation could also contribute to the decline of the fishing industry.