A diver was taken to the hospital following an encounter with a great white shark in Percé, Quebec, located in the Gaspé region. The incident occurred just before 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, as reported by the Canadian Coast Guard.
Plongée Percé, a commercial diving company, stated in a Facebook post that immediate emergency response actions were taken. The injured individual received initial on-site first aid before being swiftly transported to the hospital for further assessment. Fortunately, it has been confirmed that their life is not at risk.
The victim was aboard the vessel Yoda, a Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary dive boat, according to the Canadian Coast Guard. As of Wednesday afternoon, details about the extent of the victim’s injuries were still pending confirmation by the organization.
Kevin Dubé, a boat captain who witnessed the incident, described receiving a distress call indicating an incident involving a diver. The injured person was brought to shore in a dinghy. Dubé mentioned that emergency services were already present, and the injured diver was promptly taken to the hospital for treatment.
Plongée Percé expressed gratitude to those involved in the rescue operation and announced the suspension of diving activities for the remainder of the season.
In recent months, sightings of great white sharks have increased in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the waters off the Gaspé Peninsula and the Magdalen Islands. Ocearch, a global nonprofit organization focused on shark research, is tracking four specific sharks named Webster, Ernst, Bella, and Nori. These sharks have been spotted in various locations within the region.
According to Ocearch founder Chris Fischer, the recovery of the great white shark population is a positive sign for ocean health. He highlighted the significant decline in the global shark population in past decades and emphasized the need for conservation efforts to protect these creatures.
Caroline Miri, a marine biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, underscored the vital role that sharks play in maintaining marine ecosystems by controlling certain species and ensuring ecological balance.
Sharks are attracted to areas with abundant seal populations, such as the Gulf of St. Lawrence, as noted by the St. Lawrence Shark Observatory. Increased documentation and conservation efforts have contributed to the recovery of the great white shark population in Canadian waters, which was previously endangered.
Sandra Gauthier, director of the Exploramer science museum in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, Quebec, acknowledged that encounters with sharks are more likely due to the rise in shark numbers in the region. She emphasized the importance of coexisting with these animals and learning from other regions where interactions with sharks are more common and less threatening.
The Canadian Shark Attack Registry has recorded 15 confirmed shark-related incidents in Canada over a span of more than 330 years, indicating a rare occurrence of such incidents in the country.