A diver was taken to the hospital following an encounter with a great white shark in Percé, Quebec, located in the Gaspé region of the province. 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 on Facebook that emergency response procedures were promptly activated. The injured individual received initial medical attention on-site before being swiftly transported to the hospital for further assessment. Fortunately, it was confirmed that the diver’s life was not at risk.
The victim was identified as being on the vessel Yoda, a Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary dive boat. However, as of Wednesday afternoon, the Canadian Coast Guard had not disclosed the specifics of the diver’s injuries.
Kevin Dubé, a boat captain who witnessed the incident, mentioned that a distress call was received regarding the diver. The injured person was brought back to shore using a dinghy, with ambulances already present to provide immediate care and transfer the individual to the hospital.
Plongée Percé expressed gratitude to all 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 become more frequent in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, along the coasts of the Gaspé Peninsula, and the Magdalen Islands. Ocearch, a global non-profit organization that aids shark research, has been monitoring four sharks – Webster, Ernst, Bella, and Nori. These sharks have been tracked in various locations, indicating a resurgence in their population.
According to Ocearch founder Chris Fischer, the great white shark population faced a significant decline from the 1970s to the 1990s, with only a small percentage surviving. The presence of these sharks is seen as beneficial to local fisheries, as they help regulate seal populations and protect fish stocks.
Caroline Miri, a marine biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, highlighted the vital role of sharks in maintaining marine ecosystems. Ocearch has tagged numerous sharks across the Atlantic region, enhancing research efforts.
The St. Lawrence Shark Observatory attributed the rise in great white shark sightings to improved documentation and the recovery of the species, which was previously endangered in Canadian waters. The sharks are attracted to areas with abundant grey seal populations, making them regular visitors to the Canadian Atlantic.
Despite the recent incident in Quebec, experts like Sandra Gauthier from the Exploramer science museum emphasized the importance of coexisting with sharks. She noted that while encounters may occur, it is essential to understand and respect these creatures within their natural habitats.
Records from the Canadian Shark Attack Registry indicate that there have been 15 confirmed shark-related incidents in Canada over a span of more than 330 years.