An abalone diver is in a stable condition after a shark attack off a remote part of Western Australia's southern coast while the Department of Fisheries is trying to catch and kill the animal.
Greg Pickering, 55, was collecting the delicacy off Poison Creek at Cape Arid National Park, about 180km east of Esperance, when he was attacked by a white pointer shark at about 10.30am (WST) on Tuesday.
He was rushed to Esperance Hospital for treatment for bite wounds, mainly to his torso, and is being transferred to Royal Perth Hospital.
Mr Pickering also has minor injuries to his face.
His employer, Marcus Tromp of Southern Wild Abalone, said he was pleased Mr Pickering was in a stable condition after being rushed to shore from a very remote part of the ocean by his shocked colleagues.
"To be conscious and talking is very promising," Mr Tromp told AAP.
"It was colleagues helping colleagues. In diving or farming or mining, people working in the same field and close working colleagues would do the same thing."
Meanwhile, the Department of Fisheries has sent officers to the attack site and set traps after its Director General gave orders for the animal to be killed.
Mr Tromp said Mr Pickering's family was calm despite the drama.
He is believed to have been an abalone diver for over 40 years and was in 2004 reportedly bitten by a 1.5 metre bronze whaler while in waters near Cervantes, north of Perth, as he was trying to help a friend.
He reportedly put himself between his friend and the shark when it began attacking and was bitten on the leg.
The experienced spear fisherman had another close call in 2009, when the boat he was diving under in Ceduna in South Australia was capsized.
He and another deckhand were found by rescue crews in a life raft after about three hours.
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