The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced plans to safely release the shark known as 'Bukan,' currently residing in the North Port Waterfront Park, into the open sea on October 21. This operation will be conducted in collaboration with the city of Busan and the National Marine Biodiversity Institute.
The decision to proceed on October 21 was made considering that there are no cruise ship operations scheduled for that day and the anticipated drop in temperatures starting October 22.
Bukan, a blacktip shark measuring approximately 3 meters in length, was first spotted in the North Port Waterfront Park on September 18. Authorities have attempted to guide it back to the open sea twice before and have been continuously monitoring its health and behavior.
On October 19, the Ministry held a consultation meeting with experts in shark and veterinary medicine from the National Fisheries Research Institute and the National Marine Biodiversity Institute. The experts agreed that a swift release into the open sea is necessary, given the limited depth of the artificial waterway and the expected drop in water temperature.
Additionally, a strategy meeting was held on October 20 near Busan Station, involving ten agencies, including the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the city of Busan, the National Marine Biodiversity Institute, the National Fisheries Research Institute, Busan Port Authority, and Busan Facilities Corporation. They discussed detailed execution plans and the roles of each agency.
The release operation will begin with an underwater drone survey of the seabed and obstacles at the entrance of the waterway. Equipment installation will take place on the morning of October 21, followed by the actual release in the afternoon.
The third release attempt will address the limitations identified in the previous two attempts by securing a net to a pontoon and gradually moving it to guide the shark toward the open sea. After the shark passes, the net will block re-entry into the waterway, encouraging its movement toward the ocean.
During the operation, the condition and movement of the shark will be continuously monitored to minimize stress on the animal and ensure the safety of workers and park visitors.
Hwang Jun-seong, Director of Marine Environment Policy at the Ministry, stated, "Based on expert opinions, we will work closely with relevant agencies to ensure Bukan's safe transition to the open sea. We also urge citizens to refrain from actions that could disrupt the release operation and to cooperate with access restrictions and safety personnel on-site."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.