The use or extraction of a resource to the point of depletion (or extinction) Biologically, it usually refers to over harvesting of a resource population to a level below the maximum needed for a sustainable yield (= level at which a population can, theoretically, continue to be optimally harvested over the long run)
Exploitation of (removal of individuals or biomass from) a natural population at a rate greater than the population is able to match with its own recruitment, thus tending to drive the population towards extinction