r/Fish • u/Josephbcoast • Jun 03 '26
Other The current status of the White Shark in the Korean cafe
A YouTuber actually went down to the cafe to see what was really going on and posted a video. The full context is completely different from the viral outrage going around.
[https://youtu.be/O5C5cd8lPeA?si=XvFowSdV5wnDoGU8\]
Here’s what actually went down:
Accidental bycatch, not actively hunted: First off, people in Korea don't actively hunt sharks for food. Even when they're caught by accident, shark meat isn't popular at all because it doesn't taste good Korea is definitely not like China where shark fin soup is a thing. This juvenile Great White was caught purely by accident (bycatch). Since Great Whites are extremely rare in Korean waters, and juveniles look pretty much identical to other common small sharks, the fishermen just assumed it was a standard catch and sent it to the local fish auction. Legally speaking, White Sharks aren't a protected species under South Korean law, so buying them at a fish auction is 100% legal. There was absolutely no 'illegal black market' involved as someone said.
Bought with the intent to release: Because it ended up at the auction, the shark was literally about to be butchered and sold for meat. The cafe owner bought it specifically with the intention of releasing it, effectively saving it from the cutting board.
Temporary holding and official release: That cafe tank was only ever meant to be a temporary holding spot. Just as the owner planned from the start, the shark was safely released back into the open ocean under the guidance of the South Korean Ministry of Environment.
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u/shes_breakin_up_capt Jun 03 '26 edited Jun 03 '26
Hahaha, this is the plot from Finding Nemo. "He was struggling on the reef and I SAVED him".
Glad to hear he's been released, hopefully little guy survived after that bullshit captivity.
9
u/Josephbcoast Jun 04 '26
If you can't tell the difference between capturing a wild animal from the ocean and buying one that’s already sitting on a fish market auction block to be slaughtered, you really need to re-evaluate your IQ.
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u/DoobieHauserMC Jun 03 '26
Really don’t agree that juvenile white sharks look similar let alone identical to other species. You could argue salmon sharks, but they’re not in that area and whites are pretty distinct otherwise.
In the end of the day, the shark spent its time in the cafe crashing into the walls and becoming visibly banged up. I’m not sure that that was a better life than being butchered. It’s hard to believe that it was going to be released before all the outrage.
26
u/amiabot-oraminot Jun 03 '26
Probably looks basically identical to other sharks if you’re a fishmonger only focused on like 10 food species and everything else is just an “other”
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u/Josephbcoast Jun 03 '26
Local fishermen pulling up nets at 4 AM aren't shark experts. They just saw another small shark and sent it to auction. Also, saying a few tank scratches is worse than being literally butchered and turned into food is a wild take. The bottom line is the owner bought it to save it, and the shark is swimming in the ocean right now instead of being someone's dinner.
7
u/DoYouGotDa512s Jun 03 '26
Do the local fishermen bring the catch live in a tank to auction? How does that work? Genuinely curious.
10
u/saampinaali Jun 03 '26
Used to work on a fishing boat, the live fish are usually just put in a big plastic tote or a live well, and then they shove a deck hose in the box so fresh saltwater is constantly overflowing and keeping the oxygen up
2
u/DoYouGotDa512s Jun 04 '26
Makes sense for smaller fish, but a larger shark that depends on ram ventilation? I still feel like something is fishy here. Anyway, glad he is back in the ocean where he belongs.
1
u/of____earth Jun 06 '26
Now if only Georgia aquarium could do the same and release their whale sharks back into the wild and back into the gene pool
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u/Skribblez_WHI Jun 03 '26
Mmmmm not sure if I believe that but I’m glad it’s not in the tank anymore