Busan launches rescue operation for canal-trapped shark 'Bukang-i'

Busan maritime authorities launched a rescue operation on Tuesday to guide a shark trapped in a canal at North Port Waterfront Park in Busan, 12 days after it was first spotted. Officials planned to use vessels and water sprays first, with a custom-made net as a backup if needed. The shark, nicknamed Bukang-i, had drawn more than 600,000 visitors by Monday. Authorities said no feeding had been observed and that keeping the animal in the canal was no longer viable.

The shark was first spotted in the canal on Sept. 18 and remained there for 12 days before the rescue effort began.

The Busan Coast Guard and the National Institute of Fisheries Science prepared for the operation at North Port in Busan, about 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

Officials planned to deploy two vessels to guide the shark out of the park by spraying streams of water.

If the first method failed, they planned to use a custom-made net fitted to the width and depth of the artificial waterway.

The shark had drawn more than 600,000 visitors as of Monday since it was first seen in the canal.

Published Sep 29, 2026 2:37 pm KST

Updated Sep 29, 2026 2:42 pm KST

A vessel operated by the Busan Coast Guard and the National Institute of Fisheries Science herd the shark 'Bukang-i' toward one side of a waterway at a waterfront park in Busan, Tuesday. Yonhap

BUSAN — Maritime authorities on Tuesday launched an operation to guide a shark from a canal to the outer sea, 12 days after the animal became trapped in the canal at a waterfront park in the southeastern city of Busan.

The Busan Coast Guard and the National Institute of Fisheries Science, along with other relevant agencies, began preparing for the operation earlier in the day at North Port in Busan, about 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

Once the preparatory work is completed, the police plan to deploy two vessels to guide the shark out of the park by spraying streams of water.

If the method fails, they plan to guide the shark to the open sea by using a net custom-made to fit the width and depth of the artificial waterway.

Affectionately named "Bukang-i" — a combination of Bukhang, or North Port, and the Korean suffix "i" — the marine animal has drawn more than 600,000 visitors as of Monday since it was first spotted in the canal on Sept. 18.

Initially, local maritime police and authorities tried to drive the shark away. The animal, however, refused to leave the channel, prompting officials to suspend their operations.

With no feeding activities observed since the shark was first spotted, the local authorities decided it was no longer viable to let the animal stay in the canal and held a meeting Monday to discuss rescue plans.

釜山海事部门周二启动救援行动，试图将一条被困在釜山北港滨水公园运河中的鲨鱼引出。这条鲨鱼于12天前首次被发现。官员们计划首先使用船只和喷水装置，必要时会使用特制渔网作为备用。这条鲨鱼被昵称为“北港伊”（Bukang-i），截至周一已吸引了超过60万名游客。当局表示，没有发现鲨鱼进食的迹象，因此继续将其留在运河中已不再可行。

9月18日，人们首次在运河中发现了这条鲨鱼，它在运河里待了12天，之后救援行动才开始。

釜山海岸警卫队和国立水产科学研究所为在釜山北港（位于首尔东南约 330 公里处）开展行动做好了准备。

官员们计划部署两艘船，通过喷水的方式引导鲨鱼离开公园。

如果第一种方法失败了，他们计划使用定制的网，该网根据人工水道的宽度和深度进行调整。

自周一首次在运河中发现这条鲨鱼以来，已经吸引了超过 60 万名游客。

发布于2026年9月29日下午2:37（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年9月29日下午2:42（韩国标准时间）

周二，釜山海岸警卫队和国立水产科学研究所联合运营的船只在釜山一处海滨公园将鲨鱼“北江伊”驱赶至水道一侧。（韩联社）

釜山——周二，海洋当局展开行动，引导一条鲨鱼从运河游向外海。此前，这条鲨鱼在釜山东南部城市海滨公园的运河中被困了12天。

釜山海岸警卫队和国立水产科学研究所，以及其他相关机构，当天早些时候在釜山北港（位于首尔东南约 330 公里处）开始为此次行动做准备。

准备工作完成后，警方计划部署两艘船只，通过喷水的方式引导鲨鱼离开公园。

如果这种方法失败，他们计划使用特制的、适合人工水道宽度和深度的渔网，将鲨鱼引到公海。

这只海洋动物被亲切地称为“北港伊”（Bukang-i），由“北港”（Bukhang）和韩语后缀“i”组合而成。自9月18日首次在运河中被发现以来，截至周一，它已经吸引了超过60万名游客。

起初，当地海事警察和有关部门试图驱赶鲨鱼。然而，这条鲨鱼拒绝离开航道，迫使官员们暂停了行动。

自首次发现鲨鱼以来，一直没有观察到鲨鱼的觅食活动，当地政府认为让鲨鱼继续留在运河中已不再可行，并于周一召开会议讨论救援计划。