Shark Spotted Again in Busan Waterfront Park After Previous Day's Sighting

A shark was spotted again today, September 19, in the waterway of the Busan North Port Waterfront Park, prompting authorities to issue safety warnings.

According to the Busan Metropolitan Government and other sources, a report was received at around 1:05 PM today that a shark had appeared in the waterway inside the North Port Waterfront Park in Dong-gu, Busan.

The city of Busan sent out an emergency safety text message urging residents and citizens strolling in the area to exercise caution regarding safety.

At around 8:57 AM yesterday, a shark estimated to be a 3-to-4-meter-long requiem shark (Carcharhinus obscurus) was also found in the same waterway at the North Port Waterfront Park.

Requiem sharks are distributed in subtropical waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans, including the coastal waters of South Korea, and are classified as a species with potential for aggression.

It is reported that the shark discovered today is also presumed to be of the same species as the one seen yesterday.

However, it has not been confirmed whether the shark spotted yesterday remained in the waterway and reappeared or if a new individual entered the area.

The Korea Coast Guard is currently monitoring the situation to allow the shark to find its own way back out to the open sea.

When the initial report was filed yesterday, authorities mobilized the Central Regional Coast Guard Special Rescue Team, coastal rescue boats, patrol vessels, and dangerous species deterrence equipment to guide the shark toward the open ocean. However, operations were suspended following a recommendation from the National Institute of Fisheries Science that aggressively driving the shark away could trigger aggressive behavior.

The National Institute of Fisheries Science believes that reports of requiem sharks appearing in domestic coastal waters have been increasing recently due to rising water temperatures, and that the shark likely entered the North Port waterway while following its prey.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.