(Busan = Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Young-jae = The authorities' second rescue operation to release the shark 'Bukangi', which had been staying in the artificial waterway of Busan's North Port Waterfront Park, into the sea ended with 'half success'.
Although they were driven out of the area where they mainly appeared, they could not be sent out to the sea outside the waterway.
The relevant authorities, including the Busan Marine Police Station, installed ships, personnel, and large nets in the waterway on the 2nd and began the second rescue operation by pulling the nets around 4 p.m.
It has been three days since the first rescue operation on the 29th of last month, which attempted to drive Bukangi away by shooting a stream of water from a water pump, failed.
On this day, authorities dragged a net from near the 4th pedestrian bridge towards the 5th pedestrian bridge. The waterway between the two bridges is an area where boukangis often appear.
If you go a little further past the 5th pedestrian bridge, the sea begins with the 6th pedestrian bridge.
The authorities stopped at around 5:35 p.m., an hour and a half after they started pulling the net, unable to go any further.
This is because the net was caught on the uneven bottom of the waterway. The net used by the authorities was specially made by the National Institute of Fisheries Science, was 50 meters long and 6.8 meters high, and had a heavy weight attached to the bottom.
This was done to prevent any gaps between the net and the floor, but the net ended up getting caught on the floor.
As the sun was setting, the authorities decided to stop work, fixed the nets at the site, and withdrew.
The decision to stop the rescue operation also took into account the fact that Bukangi was no longer trying to go out.
To avoid provoking Boukangi, the authorities slowly dragged the net, stopping as Boukangi approached the net, and moving forward again when Boukangi moved away. Contrary to the original plan, no stream of water was fired.
Bukangi, which was gradually being guided towards the sea, swam so close to the net as if it would not be pushed any further, and the authorities were unable to push the net forward.
In the end, we failed to send Boukangi out to sea on this day, but we succeeded in getting Boukangi out of the area where it often appears.
The point where the authorities stopped the net is past the 5th pedestrian bridge, about 150m inside the waterway exit. Bukangi was guided outside the familiar area.
Initially, an analysis was made that the reason Bukangi was unable to go out to sea was because both ends of the waterway were bent and it was unable to find an exit, but the area where the net was installed was much closer to the exit.
The possibility of Bukangi leaving on his own has increased accordingly.
From this day on, as the weather becomes chilly in the mornings and evenings, if the water temperature in the canal gradually drops, the boukans may move to warmer waters.
However, if Bukangi wanders around the net and finds a gap and comes inside, even half of the results will be in vain.
The relevant authorities, including Busan City, decided to hold a meeting after completing the rescue operation on this day and wait to see if Bukangi would go out on his own during the National Foundation Day holiday (3rd to 5th).
The Busan Facilities Corporation plans to control the 6th pedestrian bridge and strengthen patrols.
