Critical Reasoning

A 20 percent decline in lobster catches in Maine waters since 1980 can be justifiably blamed on legislation passed in 1972 to protect harbor seals. Maine's population of harbor seals is now double the level existing before production was initiated, and these seals are known to eat both fish and lobsters.

Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?

(A) Harbor seals usually eat more fish than lobsters, but the seals are natural predators of both.

(B) Although harbor seals are skillful predators of lobsters, they rarely finish eating their catch.

(C) Harbor seals attract tourists to Maine's coastal areas, thus revitalizing the local economy.

(D) Authors of the 1972 legislation protecting harbor seals were convinced that an increase in that animal's numbers would not have a measurably negative impact on the lobster catch.

(E) The record lobster harvests of the late 1970's removed large numbers of mature lobsters from the reproductive stock.

OA is E

What makes the OA the best pick here. I need an explanation on it. An Expert analysis. Thanks

Option A - INCORRECT.
This option is in support of why there is an incredible increase in Maine's population of harbor seals and a decrease in Lobsters catch. Harbor seals usually eat more fish than lobsters, but the seals are natural predators of both, and lobsters are more easily accessible for harbor seals to dine on.

Option B - INCORRECT.
Harbor seals are skillful predators of lobsters, they rarely finish eating their catch but lobsters remnants are not useful to human lobster hunters/fisherman.

Option C - INCORRECT.
This option is one of the main reasons why legislation passed the law in 1972 to protect harbor seals from being hunted. Harbor seals attract tourists to Maine's coastal areas, thus revitalizing the local economy.

Option D - INCORRECT.
This is also one of the reasons behind the increase in harbor seals and decrease in lobster catch. Authors of the 1972 legislation protecting harbor seals were convinced that an increase in that animal's numbers would not have a measurably negative impact on the lobster catch.

Option E - CORRECT.
This option has seriously weaken the argument. Assuming the record lobster harvests of the late 1970's removed large numbers of mature lobsters from the reproductive stock, the young lobsters then by now would have matured and duly reproduced more than enough for the harvesters. But, due to the legislation passed in 1972 to protect harbor seals, the increasing numbers of the harbor seals has eaten and decreased the number of lobster catch in the maines water.