A 70cm Blue Shark Caught off Goseong, Gangwon Province
Rising Sea Temperatures Lead to More Sightings Along the East Coast
Highly Aggressive... Coast Guard Urges Caution
A blue shark, classified as a man-eating shark due to its high level of aggression, was caught by an angler in the waters off Goseong, Gangwon Province.
According to Sokcho Coast Guard and other authorities on July 17, at around 9:55 a.m. that day, a shark was caught on the fishing rod of an angler approximately 3.7 kilometers (2 nautical miles) east of Daejin Port in Hyeonnae-myeon, Goseong County, Gangwon. The shark caught was identified as a blue shark, measuring about 70 centimeters in length and weighing approximately 10 kilograms.
A blue shark caught by an angler in the waters off Goseong, Gangwon. Provided by Sokcho Coast Guard.
The blue shark is widely distributed in tropical and temperate waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. It is known for its speed, aggressive behavior, and strong tendency to attack humans and other animals. In fact, in September last year, an incident occurred in the waters off Yeongdo-gu, Busan, where a 60-year-old fishing boat crew member was bitten on the foot and fingers by a blue shark measuring 90 centimeters in length.
In recent years, aggressive sharks, including blue sharks, have been frequently sighted along the east coast (Gyeongbuk and Gangwon regions). Experts estimate that the influx of warm-water fish species into the East Sea due to rising sea temperatures caused by climate change has led large sharks to approach the coast in pursuit of prey.
According to the National Institute of Fisheries Science, the number of reports of sharks being caught or sighted along the east coast increased sharply from just 1 case in 2022 to 29 cases in 2023, and 44 cases last year. On July 7, a blue shark over 2 meters in length was spotted circling a fishing boat about 3 kilometers off Anmok Beach in Gangneung, Gangwon Province.
As shark sightings along the east coast become more frequent, authorities such as the Coast Guard are urging fishermen, water leisure operators, and beachgoers to exercise caution. On this day, the Sokcho Coast Guard strengthened maritime patrols to enhance the safety management of beach users and sent public alert text messages to underwater leisure operators and surfing businesses. A Coast Guard official said, "If you spot a shark or similar animal in the sea, please report it to the Coast Guard without delay."
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