The situation existing when the rate of fishing mortality is above FMAX and when the loss in fish weight due to mortality exceeds the gain in fish weight due to growth.

(King, 1995). A level of fishing in which young recruits entering the fishery are caught before they grow to an optimum marketable size; a level beyond that required to maximize yield (or value) per recruit.

occurs when too many small fish are being harvested; a restraint on catching them would result in an overall increase in yield from the fishery.