Shark are being spotted more frequently around the Korean Peninsula as rising ocean temperatures send species that prefer warmer waters to the East Sea. Several beaches on the east coast have set up nets and electroshock devices to keep sharks at bay.
According to the Korea Coast Guard, shark sightings have recently been reported in Yangyang, Sokcho and Samcheok in Gangwon Province and Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province.
In late June, a fisherman found an almost 2 m-long, dead great white shark and a salmon shark in his nets. Another salmon shark was spotted in Yangyang, while mako sharks were seen in Samcheok and Pohang early this month.
Salmon sharks have been spotted on the East Sea before since they live in deep, cold waters, but not commonly near coastal areas. They are not known to attack humans. Mako sharks also live in the deep sea and are no threat to swimmers on beaches.
But great white sharks are a problem since they approach shallow waters in search of prey such as seals. Seven shark attacks have been documented in Korea over the years, and all of them involved great white sharks. Six of the victims died.
Great white sharks live in warm waters and have been spotted off the coast of Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province and Baeknyeong Island off the coast of Incheon. Now they have arrived in the colder East Sea.
Beaches are coming up with ways to keep sharks away. Pohang is setting up shark repellent devices in six beaches and also train lifeguards to deal with shark attacks.
Choi Yoon at Kunsan University said, "Great white sharks were unheard-of north of Pohang even 20 to 30 years ago. It looks like rising ocean temperatures are attracting sharks that usually live in tropical waters."
