Dead Shortfin Mako Shark Found at Busan Jagalchi Pier... Highly Aggressive

Length 2m... Decomposed Without Capture Marks
Coast Guard Warns Swimmers to Beware of Sharks

A shark carcass, presumed to be an aggressive shark, was recovered from the waters in front of the Busan Jagalchi Cruise Pier.

On the 16th, Yonhap News reported, citing the Busan Maritime Police Station's announcement, that at around 2:30 p.m. on the 15th, a coastal rescue boat dispatched to the waters in front of the Busan Jagalchi Cruise Pier recovered a shark carcass. The recovered carcass is estimated to be a blue shark about 2 meters in length. The blue shark, which typically measures 1.8 to 2.4 meters in length, is characterized by its blue coloration on its back and sides, and is called "Blue Shark" in English. The blue shark is classified as a dangerous mackerel shark species that can attack people or boats. The discovered shark carcass showed no signs of harpoon or capture marks and was in a severely decomposed state. The maritime police plan to request the National Institute of Fisheries Science to accurately identify the shark species and other details.

The body of a shark presumed to be a shortfin mako shark being lifted [Photo by Busan Coast Guard, Yonhap News]

Recently, due to rising water temperatures, sharks have been frequently appearing along various coastal areas of Korean waters. Experts believe that as warm current species increase, sharks chasing prey are approaching the coast.

Earlier, in the waters off Busan, two carcasses of less aggressive sevengill sharks were found twice near Taejongdae and Saengdo in July. On July 4th, a fishing boat operating near Taejongdae in Busan caught a sevengill shark carcass. Then, on the 12th of the same month, a sevengill shark was caught in the net of a fishing vessel during operations. The sevengill shark's body length is about 2 meters, and it weighs between 150 and 180 kg.

Sharks have been frequently appearing in Korean waters since last year. In particular, large sharks have appeared in various locations along the East Coast (from Goseong, Gangwon to Pohang, Gyeongbuk). Last year, there were 29 reports of large sharks being caught or found along the East Coast. This is an explosive increase compared to only one report in 2022. Additionally, up to early last month this year, there have been a total of 14 cases of sharks caught as bycatch during fishing operations.

Considering the locations where sharks have been found so far, the probability of ordinary people encountering sharks while swimming is very low. Sharks are generally found along prey migration routes, so one must travel at least 30 to 40 minutes by boat from the coast to see sharks. However, if you encounter a shark in the sea, you should never provoke it. A National Institute of Fisheries Science official advised, "If you spot a shark when the seawater is only knee-deep, you should immediately get out of the water on the spot. If the water is up to your chest, you should remain as still as possible to avoid being perceived as prey by the shark." The Busan Maritime Police also urged swimmers and marine leisure visitors to be cautious and prepared for shark appearances near the coast.