Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Dr. Caraguel and Dr. Crook, for coming.
The biggest problem we seem to have with the seal hunt is the perception of cruelty. Part of what you explained here was that there were, I believe, 61 cases in one area, and there was one that wasn't properly hit with the hakapik. You indicated, Doctor, that the animal was unconscious and could not regain life. But the problem we have as a group and as a committee is that the people watching are horrified. And mostly what you've explained to us is that it's totally humane and done in a proper manner.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe wants the hakapik eliminated. What we are trying to do as a committee is explain to the world that in fact we have one of the most humane and necessary hunts. I believe you're involved in health research. What would happen if we did not have a seal hunt? What would happen to the seal population? Perhaps either one of you could answer that.
It's a problem. We're going to travel. We're going to meet people in the European Union. The problem we have, as a parliamentary committee, is what is shown here or what the International Fund for Animal Welfare and other groups put up and what people see. I wonder what difference it would make if you took them into a slaughterhouse where a young steer was being taken in and the same thing was done.
We have a big job to do, but if we don't accomplish some of what we're trying to do, this hunt could be in jeopardy, and that would be serious, I believe.
Would you like to respond to that?