A diver was hospitalized after a great white shark attack in Percé, Quebec, within the Gaspé region. The Canadian Coast Guard reported the incident occurred before 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
Plongée Percé, a commercial diving company, swiftly initiated emergency response measures. The injured individual received immediate on-site first aid and was promptly taken to the hospital for further assessment. Fortunately, their life is not in jeopardy.
The victim was aboard the Yoda vessel, a Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary dive boat. As of Wednesday afternoon, the Canadian Coast Guard could not confirm the extent of the injuries.
Kevin Dubé, a boat captain, witnessed the incident and mentioned receiving a distress call about the diver. The injured party was transported to shore via a dinghy, where awaiting ambulances quickly took over and transferred the individual to the hospital.
Plongée Percé expressed gratitude to the rescue team and announced the suspension of diving activities for the season.
In recent months, sightings of great white sharks have increased in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, off the coasts of the Gaspé Peninsula, and the Magdalen Islands. Ocearch, a global non-profit organization aiding shark research, is tracking four sharks – Webster, Ernst, Bella, and Nori. Notably, Webster, a 12-foot, 1,000-pound shark spotted near Newfoundland and Labrador, symbolizes ocean recovery.
Chris Fischer, the founder of Ocearch, mentioned the substantial decline in the global great white shark population from the 1970s to the 1990s. He highlighted the conservation efforts that helped preserve around nine percent of the remaining population. The presence of sharks benefits local fisheries by regulating seal populations and safeguarding fish stocks.
Caroline Miri, a marine biologist at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, emphasized the crucial role sharks play in marine ecosystems. Ocearch has tagged approximately 115 sharks across the Atlantic region, enhancing research efforts.
The St. Lawrence Shark Observatory attributes the surge in great white shark sightings to improved documentation and the species’ recovery from endangerment in Canadian waters. These sharks are now regular visitors to the gulf and Canadian Atlantic, particularly in areas abundant with grey seals.
Sandra Gauthier, director of the Exploramer science museum in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, Quebec, stated that encountering sharks in the gulf waters was foreseeable due to their increased presence. She emphasized the need to coexist with these animals and highlighted the rarity of shark attacks worldwide.
The Canadian Shark Attack Registry records only 15 confirmed shark-related incidents in Canada over a span of more than 330 years.