The Municipal Aquarium in Santos, São Paulo, has been closed since June 2025 due to ongoing renovations that have encountered significant delays. The city government announced plans to terminate its contract with Cerqueira Torres Desenvolvimento Urbano Ltda, which was awarded to oversee a renovation project valued at R$ 1.078 million. Officials pointed out that the contractor has delivered only 9% of the expected work as of now, which includes the demolition of a couple of walkways and debris removal, well below the anticipated progress by December 2025.

In response to the contractor's failure to meet the project timeline, the municipality imposed a fine of R$ 107.8 thousand, reflecting 10% of the project’s total value. The city government indicated that it is pursuing a unilateral rescission of the contract, allowing them to engage the second-ranked bidder from the original bidding process to facilitate the continuation of the renovation work. This decision underscores the city's commitment to ensuring that the aquarium is renovated and reopened in a timely manner.

The implications of this contract termination signify not only a financial blow to the contracted firm but also highlight the challenges municipalities face in managing public works projects. The delays can impact local tourism and community engagement with the aquarium, which serves as an important educational and recreational resource. The city's proactive measures to resolve the situation reflect the urgency to restore the aquarium's functions and restore public access as soon as feasible.