Authorities respond to reported shark attack near Coral Bay in Western Australia

A man is in hospital following a reported shark attack in remote Gascoyne, Western Australia.

Fisheries officials said the incident occurred shortly after 11am on Monday in waters near Coral Bay, 1,100 kilometres north of Perth.

A short time later, a citizen in the area discovered an unknown species of shark five meters off the coast.

The man was taken from Fourteen Mile Beach Camp, where he had been spearfishing, to the Coral Bay Medical Center for treatment.

A WA Country Health Service spokesman said the man was in a stable condition.

The incident came after the Ministry of Primary Industries and Regional Development issued a shark alert on Monday after a whale carcass was spotted floating near Point Cloates, about 63 kilometres north of where the shark bite occurred.

Marty Horak, manager of the nearby Warroora railway station, said the incident occurred on the busiest section of the popular school holiday resort he had experienced all year.

“The school holidays in July are our peak season,” he said.

Mr Horak could only remember two or three shark attacks in the last decade.

In April, a man was bitten by a shark at the Bombie surf spot near Exmouth, about 170 kilometers north.

Visitors to the area were urged to take extra precautions near the water while authorities investigated the attack.