10 agencies hold meeting Tuesday; health concerns mount as temperatures drop; nets, pontoons and divers to be deployed

Workers conduct the second attempt to guide shark Bukang-i out to open sea at Bukhang Waterfront Park in Dong-gu, Busan, on Oct. 2. [Yonhap]
Workers conduct the second attempt to guide shark Bukang-i out to open sea at Bukhang Waterfront Park in Dong-gu, Busan, on Oct. 2. [Yonhap]

Busan city will launch a third attempt Wednesday to guide Bukang-i — a shark that has been lingering in the scenic waterway of Bukhang Waterfront Park — back to the open sea, working jointly with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea and other agencies.

The city held a meeting Tuesday morning near Busan Station, bringing together 10 agencies — including the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, the National Institute of Fisheries Science and the Busan Port Authority — to discuss a detailed action plan and each agency's role. The ministry's Marine Ecology Division and the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea will oversee the open-sea guidance operation, with the other agencies cooperating to ensure the shark's safe passage and on-site safety management.

The third attempt comes after expert institutions determined that swift action was needed, as Bukang-i has not been observed feeding and its health is feared to be deteriorating due to falling air and water temperatures. A sharp temperature drop forecast for Thursday made Wednesday — when no cruise ships are scheduled — the optimal window for the operation.

The third attempt will address limitations identified during the first two operations, including the waterway's topography and water depth, by deploying nets, pontoons and divers.

The operation will proceed in stages: a preliminary survey, equipment installation and then the open-sea guidance in the afternoon. On Tuesday afternoon, crews used underwater sonar and submersible drones to map the seabed and identify obstacles at the waterway entrance. On Wednesday morning, blocking nets and pontoons will be installed around the fifth and sixth pedestrian bridges for a drill before the guidance operation begins as soon as on-site preparations are complete.

The operation will push nets connected to pontoons toward the open sea to guide Bukang-i's movement while blocking the rear to prevent the shark from turning back into the waterway. Drones will track Bukang-i's position and movements in real time, and divers will monitor underwater obstacles and net conditions, allowing crews to adapt flexibly to conditions on the scene.

Expert institutions, including the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, will observe Bukang-i's behavior and health and direct the operation, adjusting the method and pace if any abnormal signs appear. Busan city, together with the Busan Port Authority, the Busan Facilities Corporation, police and the Korea Coast Guard, will restrict access to the fifth and sixth pedestrian bridges and key work zones, and will reinforce safety personnel deployment and on-site patrols to ensure visitor safety.

Mayor Jeon Jae-soo urged citizens to refrain from any actions that could interfere with the operation and to cooperate fully with access restrictions and the guidance of safety personnel. "We will do our utmost to ensure Bukang-i returns safely to the sea," he said.


kaf2002@heraldcorp.com