“Where has Bukangi gone?” ... Heuksangeo shark at Busan North Port missing for eighth day

[Financial News] The Heuksangeo shark Bukangi, which had stayed at Busan North Port for more than a month, has not been seen for eight days. Experts raised the possibility that Bukangi, having left the artificial channel, adapted to its new environment and moved offshore from the Port of Busan.
According to the National Institute of Fisheries Science and other relevant agencies, no public reports of sightings that could confirm Bukangi’s location had been received as of the 3rd.
Bukangi left the artificial channel at Busan North Port Waterfront Park on Oct. 21 through an operation by relevant agencies to guide it out to open waters.
The National Institute of Fisheries Science subsequently monitored Bukangi’s movements and health around Busan North Port. However, it was not seen during the eight days from Oct. 27 to Nov. 3.
On-site monitoring has been suspended since Oct. 30. The National Institute of Fisheries Science changed its response system so that staff would go to the site if members of the public reported sightings, but no related reports have been received so far.
Another possibility raised is that Bukangi adapted to a new marine environment after leaving the narrow, shallow artificial channel where it had stayed for an extended period.
Experts have not ruled out the possibility that Bukangi is staying in deeper waters of North Port without surfacing. They said, however, that it may already have left the Port of Busan and moved farther out to sea.
Relevant agencies decided to keep in place for the time being the barrier installed to prevent Bukangi from re-entering the artificial channel.
They plan to consider removing the barrier when they judge it sufficiently likely that Bukangi has left North Port and moved out to open waters.
Bukangi was first found on Sept. 18 in the artificial channel at Busan North Port Waterfront Park. It stayed there for more than a month before leaving the channel on Oct. 21, after relevant agencies carried out three operations to guide it out to open waters. However, it was seen several times circling nearby waters even shortly after leaving the channel.


[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter