East Coast Zoological Foundation to Break Ground on Bowen Aquarium at Port Canaveral December 2

$74 million has been secured toward the $140 million fundraising goal

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — East Coast Zoological Foundation officials announced that the groundbreaking date for the much-anticipated Bowen Aquarium will be December 2, and are working with the Brevard County Board of Commissioners to align the Tourism Development Council funding with this official date.

This innovative project will be an additional home for the important conservation, education, and animal well-being work that East Coast Zoological Foundation and the Aquarium’s sister campus, Brevard Zoo, have led for decades.

“December 2 has been such a meaningful date for the ‘Our Legacy’ Campaign,” said East Coast Zoological Foundation CEO Keith Winsten.

“On that date in 2021, we kicked off our fundraising campaign, and in 2024, we announced Bowen Aquarium’s name and story. Being able to officially break ground on December 2 of this year continues the momentum on what will be a transformative project for our community and beyond.”

Sitting on 14 acres of shoreline at Port Canaveral, Bowen Aquarium officials say the aquarium will capture the beauty and benefits of natural Florida while serving as a regional conservation hub with an emphasis on restoring the Indian River Lagoon and our coastal estuary.

“This space will be a new home for the important conservation, education, and volunteer work that Brevard Zoo has been leading for years, and will provide the needed medical and research facilities for rehabilitating sea turtles and manatees,” said a Bowen Aquarium spokesperson.

“It will help educate and empower half a million people a year on how to preserve our natural resources and inspire the next generation to become environmental stewards.”

As the East Coast Zoological Foundation continues toward groundbreaking, the team has made significant progress in the last year, including:

■ Completed 100% design of the Aquarium.
■ Developed and permitted an advanced wastewater treatment approach for the backwash from our fish filtration systems that manages water quality right at the source.
■ Selected and contracted with a construction management company, PCL, that solicited bids for the project and determined construction costs.
■ Developed a strategic financial plan with our advisors and BofA Securities.

To date, $74 million has been secured toward the $140 million fundraising goal, reflecting the strength of this campaign and the community’s commitment.

Next month, the East Coast Zoological Foundation will launch a new campaign focused solely on fundraising for the Bowen Aquarium.

“Every day, we move closer to seeing Bowen Aquarium come to life,” Winsten said.

“We will continue to make progress and begin construction later this year, sharing our updates and accomplishments with the community and stakeholders along the way.”

Bowen Aquarium will offer guests a unique experience focused on native Florida wildlife, while also serving as a regional conservation hub with an emphasis on restoring the Indian River Lagoon and surrounding ecosystems.

By protecting and maintaining these healthy waterways, the East Coast Zoological Foundation sustains the recreational lifestyle the community is known for, protecting property values and safeguarding tourism.

“Bowen Aquarium has the potential to inspire a love for the Space Coast that goes beyond our local community,” said Peter Cranis, executive director of the Space Coast Office of Tourism.

“Tourists will make their memories at the Aquarium and be inspired to protect our incredible ecosystem and their own environment at home.”

In addition to Brevard Zoo, Bowen Aquarium will attract and retain a high-talent workforce to the East Coast of Florida. The Aquarium will also allow us to build additional research and innovation partnerships in the region.

“Bowen Aquarium is poised to make incredible waves throughout our community that go beyond job creation and economic impact,” said Lynda Weatherman, President & CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast.

“The Aquarium will highlight the incredible ecosystems and quality of life found on the Space Coast, drawing in the talent our business community needs.”

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