Busan to Push for 3rd Operation to Guide Shark 'Bukang-i' to Open Sea on Oct. 21, Divers to Be Deployed

A third operation will be carried out tomorrow (October 21) to guide "Bukang-i," a shark that has been lingering in the artificial waterway of Busan Bukhang Waterfront Park for over a month, out to the open sea.

The Busan Metropolitan Government announced that it will jointly conduct the third open-sea guiding operation tomorrow with related organizations, including the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea.

This operation is being pursued based on the judgment of professional organizations that prompt action is necessary, as Bukang-i has not been observed feeding, and its health could deteriorate if air and water temperatures drop further.

To make up for the limitations regarding the waterway's topography and water depth identified during the previous first and second guiding operations, the city plans to deploy nets, pontoons (floating structures for work on the water), and divers.

This afternoon (October 20), a preliminary survey will be conducted using underwater acoustic detectors and underwater drones.

Tomorrow morning, guiding equipment such as blocking nets and pontoons will be installed around the 5th and 6th pedestrian bridges, followed by a preliminary rehearsal. The full-scale open-sea guiding operation will begin as soon as preparations on site are complete.

The operation will be conducted by moving the net connected to the pontoons toward the open sea to guide Bukang-i's movement, while blocking the rear to prevent the shark from returning inward into the waterway.

In addition, drones will be used to monitor Bukang-i's location and movements in real time, and divers will check underwater obstacles and the condition of the nets, allowing the operation to proceed flexibly according to on-site conditions.

※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.