A diver in Percé, Que., was taken to the hospital following an encounter with a great white shark in Quebec’s Gaspé region. The incident took place just before 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, as reported by the Canadian Coast Guard.
Plongée Percé, a commercial diving company, promptly initiated emergency response procedures and provided initial first aid to the individual on the scene before swiftly transferring them to the hospital. Fortunately, the victim’s life was confirmed to be out of immediate danger.
The Canadian Coast Guard identified the victim as being on board the Yoda vessel, a Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary dive boat. However, as of Wednesday afternoon, details regarding the extent of the victim’s injuries were still pending confirmation.
Witnessing the event, boat captain Kevin Dubé described a distress call received indicating an incident with a diver. The injured diver was brought back to shore via a dinghy, where awaiting ambulances swiftly took over and transported the individual to the hospital.
Plongée Percé expressed gratitude on Facebook to all involved in the rescue efforts and announced the suspension of diving operations for the remaining 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 dedicated to shark research, is currently tracking four specific sharks named Webster, Ernst, Bella, and Nori in these regions.
According to Ocearch founder Chris Fischer, the recovery of the great white shark population is a positive indication for the ocean’s health, as shark presence helps regulate seal populations, consequently safeguarding fish stocks and benefiting local fisheries.
Marine biologist Caroline Miri emphasized the crucial role sharks play in marine ecosystems, controlling invasive species and maintaining balance within the food chain. Fischer noted that Ocearch has tagged approximately 115 sharks across the Atlantic, aiding in their conservation efforts.
The St. Lawrence Shark Observatory attributes the rise in great white shark sightings to enhanced documentation and the species’ recovery, previously endangered in Canadian waters. These sharks are now seasonal visitors to the gulf and the Canadian Atlantic, particularly attracted to areas abundant with grey seals.
Sandra Gauthier of the Exploramer science museum highlighted the inevitability of such incidents with the escalating shark population in the gulf. While she advised against alarm, emphasizing the need to coexist with these wild creatures, Gauthier pointed out that encounters are more likely if humans enter shark habitats.
Notably, the Canadian Shark Attack Registry has recorded 15 confirmed shark-related incidents in Canada over a span of more than 330 years.