Busan:The Busan city government announced plans to implement measures to protect beachgoers from sharks following an unusual shark visit to one of the city's canals.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the shark, nicknamed "Bukang-i" after being first spotted near Bukhang or North Port on September 18, has remained in the canal at a waterfront park despite multiple rescue attempts. This unusual presence has attracted nearly 1.35 million visitors to the park as of Sunday.
A meeting to assess the city's beach operations for the year is scheduled for November 17. During this meeting, city officials plan to discuss strategies to prevent sharks from reaching the beaches. One proposal includes classifying sharks as harmful marine life, similar to toxic jellyfish, for which protective nets are typically installed along beaches.
Busan's beaches are a major tourist attraction, with a record 22.5 million visitors this year, an increase of 2.54 percent from the previous year, as reported by the city government.