The Busan city government said on the 28th that it held a meeting of relevant agencies at North Port and would begin the operation at 10 a.m. on the 29th to guide Bukang-i back to open water.
A field survey by the National Institute of Fisheries Science confirmed that Bukang-i is breathing and swimming normally, and that its health is generally good.
However, the agencies determined that the artificial waterway where the shark is staying — about 50 meters wide and 3 meters deep — limits its ability to feed and move freely. The route leading to open water is also restricted, and they concluded that a prolonged stay could weaken the shark and, in severe cases, lead to its death.
The agencies decided to use vessels and water pumps to encourage Bukang-i to move out to sea on its own. Pumps will be used to jet water underwater inside the waterway, creating a current toward open water that the shark is expected to follow out.
The approach draws on a 2004 case in Massachusetts, in which a great white shark stranded in a salt marsh was returned to the sea. Its defining feature is that the shark is neither caught directly nor subjected to physical stimulation.
If the first attempt fails, a specially made net will be deployed. The net would be spread across the waterway to prevent the shark from moving back inside, then shifted in stages toward open water to guide it out. The net's design has been completed, and production is expected to take about three days.
The rescue operation will be led by the National Institute of Fisheries Science, with the Busan city government, the Busan Port Authority, the Busan Infrastructure Corporation, the coast guard, fire and police authorities, and Dong-gu district also taking part. The institute will assess Bukang-i's health and the appropriate rescue method, while the other agencies will provide vessels, equipment and personnel and handle access control and visitor safety.
Authorities will continue monitoring Bukang-i's condition during the operation and adjust its pace and methods if the shark shows greater stress.
As interest in Bukang-i grew, 570,000 visitors from across the country flocked to the North Port waterfront park during the Chuseok holiday. The agencies deployed 637 personnel during the holiday to manage crowds and traffic, patrol the waterfront and conduct safety inspections of facilities. Large crowds are also expected for the rescue operation on the 29th, and on-site safety management will continue.
Busan Mayor Jun Jae-soo said, "We will work closely with relevant agencies and do our utmost to ensure the shark safely returns to its natural waters."
