'Bukang-i' the 3-meter shark slips under guiding net, returns to inner waterway

Shark dives under outer net overnight, swims back inside

Ministry to reinforce net depth, resume open-sea guidance operation

"Bukang-i," a 3-meter shark, swims inside the artificial waterway at the waterfront park in Busan's North Port on Thursday morning, after re-entering through the barrier on Wednesday during a third guidance operation that had briefly pushed it outside the channel. The shark is currently swimming between the first and second barriers. (Yonhap)

"Bukang-i," a 3-meter blacktip shark that has been lingering in Busan's North Port, slipped under a net installed to guide it toward open sea and is now swimming between two barriers inside the waterway. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said it will launch a fresh effort to guide the shark back out.

The ministry confirmed Thursday that the shark had dived under the outer net overnight.

Bukang-i is currently positioned between the outer net and a second net installed some 30 to 40 meters farther inside the channel.

The ministry planned to lift the outer net from 9:30 a.m. Thursday to allow the shark to move freely.

Officials then plan to use pontoons and nets to guide Bukang-i back outside the waterway. The nets will also be deepened to prevent the shark from passing underneath again.

The ministry said it will continue monitoring the shark's location and movements as it presses ahead with the open-sea guidance operation.

adastra@heraldcorp.com