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

On Wednesday, South Korean officials launched a second coordinated attempt to herd the sizable, internet‑famous shark back into the sea after it had been stuck in the Busan Canal for weeks.

First observed earlier this month close to Busan’s busy harbor, the shark soon captured social‑media attention when footage of the predator navigating among cargo vessels spread online. Its surprising appearance in a heavily used channel generated both intrigue and alarm, leading local officials to step in.

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

For the current mission, 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 establish a friendlier temperature gradient.

Environmental organizations have expressed concern that extended cold‑water exposure could harm the shark’s health, whereas local fishers worry the animal might interfere with routine traffic and present safety hazards. Public curiosity stays strong, as numerous residents line the canal banks to observe the ongoing rescue.

Officials indicate the effort will be closely watched, and should the shark fail to react by early next week, further steps—like deploying a bigger escort ship or arranging a controlled transfer to a more appropriate habitat—could be pursued. The episode highlights the difficulties of human‑wildlife encounters in bustling sea lanes and stresses the importance of protocols that reconcile ecological needs with commercial operations.