Discouraging the use of poison to kill fish in a large water body is a way of

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks what purpose is served by discouraging people from using poison to catch fish in rivers, lakes, or other large water bodies.

Step 2: Explain the concept Conservation is the careful management and protection of natural resources so they are not depleted or destroyed. Poisoning fish is a destructive method of harvesting because it:

• Kills fish indiscriminately, including young fish, eggs, and non-target species
• Pollutes the water and harms other aquatic organisms (plants, amphibians, invertebrates)
• Can wipe out whole populations, so they cannot reproduce and recover

Stopping this practice protects the fish population so it can continue to breed and be available in the future. This is an example of conservation.

Step 3: Evaluate the options

• A. Impoverishing the people: Wrong. Protecting fish stocks supports livelihoods in the long run.
• B. Conserving the fish species: Correct. Banning poison protects fish populations from being wiped out.
• C. Allowing the fittest organism to survive: Wrong. This describes natural selection, and poison kills fit and unfit fish alike. It is not selective.
• D. Making the fish adapt to their environment: Wrong. Adaptation happens over generations through natural processes, not through human discouragement of poison.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is **B. conserving the fish species.

Exam tip: In WASSCE ecology and conservation questions, whenever you see actions that protect, preserve, or prevent depletion (such as banning poison fishing, bush burning control, or closed hunting seasons), think "conservation." Eliminate options with terms like "fittest" (natural selection) or "adapt" (evolution) unless the question is specifically about those ideas.