How does an environmental factor such as overfishing affect genetic factors in a population? overfishing will lead to increased genetic variation. environmental factors do not affect genetic factors. genetic traits that fish survive are more likely to be seen in future generations. genetic traits that are targeted by the fishing industry are more likely to be seen in future generations.

Answer – Genetic traits that help fish survive are more likely to be seen in future generations.  This is because overfishing a population of fish usually threatens the stability of the population, and ultimately their survival. For this reason, genetic traits that help fish survive are more likely to be seen in future generations.

The other options are wrong for the following reasons:

Overfishing will lead to increased genetic variation.
This is WRONG – On the contrary, overfishing may lead to a further decrease in genetic variation. Research has proven that overfished fish populations have lower genetic diversity than fish populations that have not been overfished.

Environmental factors do not affect genetic factors. 
This is WRONG – Overfishing can change the genetic characteristics of a fish population by selecting for or against certain genetically heritable traits.

Genetic traits that are targeted by the fishing industry are more likely to be seen in future generations.
This is WRONG – When specific genetic traits are being targeted by the fishing industry and overfishing ensues, the most desirable individuals (with those traits) would be harvested, and those without those traits are left behind to reproduce and contribute genes to future generations. Therefore, genetic traits that are targeted by the fishing industry are less likely to be seen in future generations.