South Korean authorities have initiated their third operation to return the shark "Bukang-i" to the sea after it had been trapped in an artificial canal near the North Port waterfront park in Busan for over a month. This action was prompted by concerns over falling water temperatures in the canal that could threaten the shark's life, amid a surge in public interest with over 1.6 million visitors coming to see it.
Today (21 Oct), South Korean officials began their third operation to help the dusky shark nicknamed "Bukang-i" out of the artificial canal near the North Port waterfront park in Busan, located in the southeast of the country, following two unsuccessful previous attempts.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, in collaboration with Busan city government, Korea's National Marine Biodiversity Institute, and other related agencies, planned the operation using nets attached to floating pontoons, gradually moving the net from inside the canal toward the sea exit to guide the shark to swim out into open waters.
This time, officials will be stationed on the floating pontoons to prevent the shark from jumping over the nets as it did in previous rescue attempts. Additionally, a second net layer will be installed inside the canal to stop the shark from swimming back in, especially near the canal's mouth where water depth increases and gaps may form between the canal floor and the net.
Before the full operation begins in the afternoon, officials will survey the underwater terrain and obstacles near the canal exit using various equipment, including underwater drones. Meanwhile, experts will closely monitor the shark’s health in real time. The ministry stated they aim to minimize the shark's stress and prioritize the safety of staff and visitors to the waterfront park.
The shark measures about 3 meters in length. According to South Korean agencies, it is identified as a dusky shark, though some reports refer to it as a blacktip shark. It was first spotted in the canal on 18 Sept. Its nickname "Bukang-i" comes from "Bukhang," a Korean word meaning "North Port."
Since the shark’s discovery, the waterfront park has unexpectedly become a popular tourist attraction, drawing over 1.6 million visitors. This surge in interest has helped stimulate the local economy. Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo expressed gratitude to the shark for promoting the city, noting that advertising at such a scale could otherwise cost trillions of won.
However, efforts to return the shark to the sea have not yet succeeded. The first attempt on 29 Sept involved using water pumps to push the shark out of the canal. The second, on 2 Oct, employed guiding nets to lead the shark about 100 meters from the canal’s mouth, but the shark later swam back inside by jumping over the net.
Initially, officials opted to wait for the shark to leave the canal on its own. However, as the shark showed no signs of leaving, combined with falling water temperatures and limited canal depth increasing the risk of death, they decided to launch the third operation.
Environmental groups view the shark’s presence not merely as a tourist attraction but as a warning sign of the climate crisis. They point out that rising sea temperatures may be pushing warm-water marine species northward, including subtropical sharks following food sources.