Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to thank the people in the industry, the fishing groups, and all the fishermen who are listening to us right now for making superhuman efforts over the last few years to ensure the protection of whales.
I should point out that not all environmental groups are against the measures we have taken. There are a number of environmental groups in my area that are working hand in hand with the industry. We will probably have a chance to hear from them in committee. They are doing a great job.
I think everyone understands that we have to work together. Fishermen are certainly part of the solution in this regard. They can help us protect the whales, have responsible fisheries and ensure that we can continue to practise this wonderful trade in the years to come.
Mr. Burns or Mr. Gilchrist, I don't want to go back to those measures or tools that we use—we're certainly going to come back to that at some point—but one thing that will be problematic in the near future is, as you said, that we're using traps with no ropes now. It's a great tool that we have still in development. There are still some hiccups here and there, but I think we're going to get there.
However, there's the weak-rope policy that we want to put in place for the next season. I think you know—and I hope you know—that there are some groups that are testing those ropes, and almost everybody said that we're not ready for those ropes. We're not ready to use those ropes. If we use these ropes, they're going to break and we're going to have more ropes in the water. Where are you at with this situation right now?
My point of view, and the point of view of the industry and also of the environmental groups, is that we should put a pause on that and make sure we have good ropes that will not break, instead of having something that will maybe present some more entanglement and damage, and then we'll see more of what we're seeing coming from the U.S. saying that we don't have good measures in place.
What are you hearing on that, and what are your thoughts on that?