BUSAN — A second attempt to return a shark nicknamed "Bukangi" to the sea from a scenic canal at Busan North Port Waterfront Park is set to begin. After the shark failed to leave the canal during an earlier effort to steer it out, authorities will this time install a large barrier net to control its movement.
The Busan city government said on the 1st that it will carry out the rescue and release operation starting at 3:30 p.m. on the 2nd near the fourth pedestrian bridge at North Port Waterfront Park. A joint rescue team from relevant agencies will gather at the site at 1:30 p.m. to check equipment and movement routes and run a rehearsal before the main operation.
The team will use a barrier net measuring 50 meters long and 6.8 meters high. Weights attached to the bottom of the net, built by the National Institute of Fisheries Science, will minimize gaps between the canal floor and the net. The method is designed to block the shark from swimming back into the inner canal while guiding it toward the canal entrance that opens to the sea.
A boat will tow the center of the net, while five workers at each end will hold it from the waterside to control the speed of movement. If the shark moves toward the entrance, the net will move with it; if it turns back, the net will be held in place to block its path. From behind, a boat equipped with a water pump will generate foam when needed to steer the shark toward open water.
Workers will also be stationed along the waterside to monitor the shark's condition. They will share its location in real time using signal batons and other tools, while experts from the National Institute of Fisheries Science observe its health and responses and adjust the method and pace of the operation. If the shark shows signs of excessive stress, the team plans to adapt the operation based on on-site judgment.
The city conducted a first attempt on the 29th of last month using boats and water pumps, but the shark did not leave the canal and was not released.
"We will do everything we can to ensure that Bukangi returns safely to the open sea through this carefully prepared follow-up rescue operation," Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo said. "We will closely monitor the shark's health based on expert judgment and leave nothing lacking in on-site safety management."
