Shark Spotted Again in Busan Waterfront Park Following Sighting Yesterday

Authorities have issued safety warnings after a shark was spotted yet again today, September 19, in the waterway of the Busan North Port Waterfront Park.

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

Busan city officials sent out emergency safety text messages, urging citizens and nearby residents taking walks in the area to exercise caution regarding their safety.

At around 8:57 AM yesterday, a shark estimated to be 3 to 4 meters in length, believed to be a requiem shark (Carcharhinus leucas / bull shark relative or general requiem shark species), was also discovered in the same North Port Waterfront Park waterway.

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 risks of aggression.

The shark spotted today is reportedly presumed to be the same species as the one seen yesterday.

However, it has not been confirmed whether the shark found 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.

During the initial report yesterday, authorities mobilized the Central Regional Korea Coast Guard Special Rescue Team, coastal rescue boats, patrol vessels, and equipment for deterring dangerous marine species to herd the shark toward the open ocean. However, operations were halted following a recommendation from the National Institute of Fisheries Science advising that forcing the animal away could trigger aggressive behavior.

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