"Beware of Man-Eating Sharks"... Great White Shark Spotted in Samcheok Donghae Sea

Great White Shark Measuring 211cm and Weighing Approximately 80kg
Local Governments Near the East Sea Strengthen Safety Management

A great white shark was caught in the waters off Imwon Port in Samcheok City, prompting caution among fishermen and vacationers.

Great White Shark Found in Samcheok... 'Man-Eating Shark Warning' Issued Amid Repeated Shark Sightings

A white shark caught accidentally in Samcheok on the 6th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Donghae Coast Guard on the 6th, at around 4:15 a.m. that day, fishing vessel A, operating a set net about 3.7 km east of Imwon Port in Samcheok City, reported finding a dead great white shark caught in the net. The Donghae Coast Guard confirmed there were no signs of intentional illegal capture on the shark carcass and issued a cetacean processing certificate to the fisherman.

The Coast Guard verified the shark as a great white through the National Institute of Fisheries Science Whale Research Center. The great white shark is a representative man-eating shark known for its high aggressiveness. The shark found this time measured 211 cm in length, 150 cm in girth, and weighed approximately 80 kg. It is currently stored at the Samcheok Imwon Fisheries Cooperative auction site.

With the beach season approaching and the discovery of a man-eating shark, the Donghae Coast Guard notified nearby local governments about safety accident prevention and related matters. They also plan to strengthen coastal safety patrols centered on the jurisdictional police stations.

A Donghae Coast Guard official stated, "Since this is the first time a great white shark has been found in our jurisdiction this year, local fishermen, swimmers, and leisure activity participants should exercise special caution. If a great white shark is accidentally caught during fishing at sea, please report it immediately to the nearest maritime police station."

The presumed carcass of a great white shark found near Jangsa Hang, Sokcho, on the 23rd of last month. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, at around 6:10 a.m. on the 4th, a fisherman operating east of Machajin in Hyeonnae-myeon, Goseong County, spotted an object presumed to be a shark. Sharks have been repeatedly found along the East Coast, including a dead sevengill shark near Sokcho Port on the 23rd of last month and a great white shark carcass near Janghang Port.

On the 1st, a fishing vessel operating about 7.5 km east of Yangyang Susan Port also discovered a dead shark and reported it to the Coast Guard.

Strengthening Beach Safety Management... When Encountering a Shark, Attack Its Eyes or Nose

Safety Rules and Action Guidelines for Shark Incident Prevention Signboard.
Photo by Sokcho City

Meanwhile, local governments preparing to open beaches have taken measures.

Sokcho City, which will open its beach on the 8th, installed nets along the entire 600-meter stretch of Sokcho Beach, recognizing the risk sharks pose to vacationers.

They also requested warning broadcasts for accident prevention and installed signboards at the beach entrance displaying 'Shark Damage Prevention Safety Rules and Action Guidelines' to inform visitors. Additionally, they posted 'Action Guidelines for Beach Staff When a Shark is Spotted' in the administrative situation room.

They have established a cooperative system with the Coast Guard to ensure prompt action in case of emergencies.

To prevent shark incidents, it is advised to: ▲avoid fishing or swimming from late evening to dawn when sharks are most active ▲not enter the sea with open wounds ▲avoid wearing very bright swimsuits or swimsuits that contrast sharply with the skin.

When encountering a shark, the recommended actions are: ▲do not scream or make provocative movements out of surprise ▲avoid grabbing or spearing the shark to prevent provocation ▲if attacked, strike the shark’s sensitive areas such as the eyes or nose with force.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.