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Busan Metropolitan City to Launch Rescue Operation for Shark “Bukangi” on October 2, Deploying Nets and Vessels for Follow-up Rescue

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that it will begin a full-scale follow-up rescue operation at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow, October 2, to safely return “Bukangi,” the shark currently remaining in the scenic waterway at North Port Waterfront Park, to its natural marine habitat.

The follow-up rescue operation has been designed to address the limitations of the first release-guidance operation conducted on September 29. A net will be used to completely block the shark from moving farther into the waterway while guiding it toward the open sea.

The joint rescue team from the relevant agencies will assemble near No. 4 Pedestrian Bridge at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow, October 2, to conduct final checks of equipment and operational routes and carry out a rehearsal. The full-scale rescue operation will begin at 3:30 p.m.

The National Institute of Fisheries Science, which is responsible for carrying out the shark rescue and release, has prepared a large barrier net measuring 50 meters in length and 6.8 meters in height for the operation. The net will prevent the shark from returning farther into the waterway, while heavy weights attached along its bottom will minimize the gap between the waterway floor and the net.

Two vessels and 10 personnel responsible for towing the net will be deployed for the guidance operation, which will be conducted through a coordinated approach covering both the waterfront and the water.

One vessel will tow the center of the net, while five personnel at each end along the waterfront will hold the net and coordinate their movement speed. As the shark moves toward the entrance of the waterway, the net will also be moved toward the entrance. If the shark turns back, movement of the net will stop and the net will be held in place to prevent the shark from moving farther into the waterway.

At the same time, another vessel equipped with a water pump will operate behind the net and, depending on conditions, generate foam to encourage the shark to move naturally toward the open sea. Personnel will also be stationed along the waterfront to track the shark’s location and share its current position using illuminated traffic batons during the operation.

The shark’s safety and health will also be treated as the highest priority throughout the rescue process.

During the operation, experts from the National Institute of Fisheries Science will monitor the shark’s health and responses in real time. The method of operation and the speed of movement will be adjusted flexibly according to on-site conditions and any signs of stress exhibited by the shark.

Busan Metropolitan City previously conducted the first guidance operation on September 29 using a vessel and water pump, but the shark did not leave the waterway and could not be released. In this second operation, the City plans to deploy both the barrier net and the water-pump vessel behind it at the same time to increase the likelihood of a successful release.

Mayor Chun Jae-soo said, “We will make every effort through this carefully prepared follow-up rescue operation to ensure that Bukangi can safely return to the open sea. In accordance with expert assessments, we will closely monitor the shark’s health while also ensuring that there are no lapses whatsoever in safety management at the site.”