If the government knew that fish caught by the fishing industry were contaminated by toxins, the government would restrict net fishing. If net fishing were restricted by the government, then the fishing industry would become more inclined to reveal the number of seabirds killed by net fishing. The seabirds that are killed by net fishing do not eat all of the species of fish caught by the fishing industry. The government cannot gain an accurate count of the number of seabirds killed by net fishing unless the fishing industry cooperates.
The fishing industry cannot currently be relied upon to help the government count the seabirds killed by net fishing, since an accurate count might result in restriction of net fishing. The government should ttherefore institute a program under which tissue samples from the dead birds are examined to determine the amount of toxins in the fish eaten by the birds. The industry would then have a reason to turn in the bird carcasses, since the industry needs to know whether the fish it catches are contaminated with toxins.
Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?