A diver was hospitalized following an encounter with a great white shark in Percé, Quebec, located in the Gaspé region of the province. 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 injured individual on-site. The diver was swiftly transported to the hospital for further assessment, with confirmation that their life was not at risk.
The victim was on the vessel Yoda, a Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary dive boat. However, as of Wednesday afternoon, the exact nature of the injuries sustained by the victim remained unconfirmed by the Canadian Coast Guard.
Acknowledging the assistance during the rescue operation, Plongée Percé expressed gratitude on Facebook and announced the suspension of diving activities for the remainder of the season.
In recent months, sightings of great white sharks have become more prevalent in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and along the coasts of the Gaspé Peninsula and the Magdalen Islands. Notably, Ocearch, a global non-profit organization dedicated to shark research, is tracking four of these sharks named Webster, Ernst, Bella, and Nori.
Webster was spotted off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, marking a positive development for the marine ecosystem. Ocearch founder Chris Fischer highlighted that the population of great white sharks faced severe decline from the 1970s to the 1990s, with only a small percentage surviving. Efforts to protect and conserve the remaining population have shown progress.
The presence of sharks in the region is seen as beneficial for local fisheries, as they help regulate seal populations and consequently safeguard fish stocks. Marine biologist Caroline Miri emphasized the crucial role sharks play in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems.
Ocearch has tagged approximately 115 sharks across the Atlantic, extending from Florida to Newfoundland and Labrador. The rise in great white shark sightings in the Gulf of St. Lawrence is attributed to enhanced documentation and the species’ gradual recovery from endangerment in Canadian waters.
According to the Canadian Shark Attack Registry, there have been 15 confirmed shark-related incidents in Canada over a span of more than 330 years. The St. Lawrence Shark Observatory attributes the recent surge in great white shark sightings to improved conservation efforts and species recovery.
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