South Korean Authorities Begin New Effort to Guide Viral Canal Shark Back to Sea

On Wednesday, South Korean officials launched a second coordinated operation aimed at nudging the sizable, internet‑famous shark back to the sea after it had been stuck in the Busan Canal for a number of weeks.

First observed earlier this month close to the busy Busan port, the shark soon captured social‑media attention when footage of the predator weaving among cargo vessels spread widely. Its surprising appearance in such a heavily used channel generated both intrigue and alarm, leading local authorities to step in.

Early efforts to steer the creature toward open water employed bait and provisional barriers, yet chilly temperatures and the shark’s wary demeanor foiled the plan. With winter looming, canal temperatures have slipped to roughly 10 °C (50 °F), a range that can strain a marine predator used to warmer flows.

During the newest attempt, divers and marine biologists from the Korea Coast Guard, aided by volunteers, set out floating nets and a custom acoustic attractor to coax the shark downstream. The strategy also calls for slowly discharging warm water from adjacent ships to produce a more favorable temperature gradient.

Conservation groups have expressed concern that extended cold‑water exposure could jeopardize the shark’s health, whereas nearby fishermen worry the creature might interfere with normal traffic and present safety hazards. Public curiosity stays strong, as numerous locals line the canal banks to observe the ongoing rescue.

Authorities note that the effort will be closely tracked, and should the shark fail to react by early next week, further actions—like deploying a bigger escort ship or arranging a controlled transfer to a more appropriate habitat—could be contemplated. The episode highlights the difficulties of human‑wildlife encounters in congested shipping lanes and underscores the necessity for guidelines that reconcile ecological protection with commercial operations.