Busan will begin an operation on September 29 to guide the shark that has been staying in a waterway at Busan North Port Waterfront Park back to the open sea.
An on-site examination by the National Institute of Fisheries Science found that the shark remains in stable condition, swimming continuously and breathing normally. However, experts are concerned that an extended stay in the confined waterway could eventually weaken the animal because of restrictions on movement and feeding.
Beginning at 10 a.m. today, officials plan to use a boat and water pumps to gently encourage the shark to swim toward the open sea.
The approach is designed to avoid capturing or physically disturbing the shark, instead creating conditions that encourage it to leave the waterway on its own. Officials said the method was developed with reference to a 2004 case in Massachusetts in which a great white shark stranded in a salt marsh was guided back toward open water.
If the initial attempt is unsuccessful, officials will use specially prepared netting to gradually prevent the shark from returning deeper into the waterway while leaving a route toward the sea open.
Marine experts will monitor the shark throughout the operation, with the method and pace adjusted if it shows signs of excessive stress.
The National Institute of Fisheries Science will oversee assessments of the shark’s condition and advise on the operation, with support from Busan City, the Busan Port Authority, Korea Coast Guard and other agencies.
