The Zaragoza Aquarium is entering a new phase with Global Omnium taking over its operation and daily management. This change follows an agreement reached with Expo Zaragoza Empresarial, the public company that owns the facility, and ensures the continued operation of an institution that has established itself as a leading center for freshwater aquatic life in Europe.
Starting April 1st , the business group will assume full responsibility for the operation of the center, from visitor services to the care of the animal collections. With this move, the Government of Aragon and the Zaragoza City Council seek to secure the aquarium's future after the previous concessionaire entered pre-bankruptcy proceedings, a situation that created uncertainty about the project's viability.
Change of management and guarantees for the future of the aquarium
The operation is structured through a contractual transfer of management , authorized by Expo Zaragoza Empresarial, an entity attached to the Public Companies Corporation. This company is 97,91% owned by the Government of Aragon and 2,09% by the Zaragoza City Council, meaning that both administrations have played a direct role in designing this new phase for the venue.
According to the Department of Development, Housing, Logistics, and Territorial Cohesion, the arrival of Global Omnium will guarantee the continuity of operations , something that had been under scrutiny in recent weeks due to the previous concessionaire's financial situation. The agreement dispels any doubts and confirms that the aquarium will remain open to the public, maintaining its programming and exhibits.
The institutions emphasize that the immediate priority will be ensuring the well-being of all animals housed at the facilities. The Zaragoza Aquarium is home to a wide variety of freshwater species from rivers around the world, making its management a unique challenge from both a technical and biological perspective. The arrival of the new operator is seen as a way to strengthen maintenance, feeding, and veterinary monitoring protocols.
This change in management is also part of the Aragonese government's commitment to preserving an iconic facility from the Expo Zaragoza 2008 era. Over the years, the riverside installation has established itself as a major tourist and educational attraction in the city, drawing around one hundred thousand visitors annually, according to the most recent data provided by the regional government. As a point of reference, the Gijón Aquarium continues to hold its leading position.
The new concession has been conceived with a medium and long-term approach: the goal is for the aquarium to remain a benchmark in environmental awareness , intensifying its educational work and adapting its proposal to the current challenges linked to climate change, the conservation of freshwater ecosystems and the protection of biodiversity.
Global Omnium's experience in aquarium management
The selection of Global Omnium as the new operator is no coincidence. The business group arrives backed by its track record in managing large aquariums in Spain, where it already operates two prominent centers: the Oceanogrà fic in Valencia and the Aquarium of Seville. In the case of Valencia, it took over management in 2015, while in the Andalusian capital it has been managing the aquarium since 2017.
The Oceanogrà fic, part of the City of Arts and Sciences, is considered the largest aquarium in Europe and a leading international center for marine conservation and education. Its facilities, covering over 110.000 square meters, recreate some of the most representative aquatic ecosystems on the planet: from the Mediterranean and wetlands to temperate and tropical oceans, and polar regions such as the Arctic and Antarctic.
This facility houses over 29.000 specimens of more than 750 different species , requiring a highly specialized level of management. The combination of tourist experience, scientific rigor, and conservation programs that has been established in Valencia is one of the strengths now being transferred to the Zaragoza Aquarium.
Together with the Oceanogrà fic Foundation, Global Omnium promotes species conservation projects, applied research, and environmental education , often in collaboration with universities, research centers, and public administrations. This network of scientific and academic alliances is another of the added values ​​that the group can bring to the Zaragoza facility.
The Oceanogrà fic also operates under demanding international standards for animal welfare and the management of zoos and aquariums. It is a member of the Spanish and European Associations of Zoos and Aquariums (AIZA and EAZA), holds Global Humane (GH) animal welfare certification, and is accredited by the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the only European aquarium to have achieved this distinction. This set of professional certifications supports the procedures that Global Omnium intends to replicate and adapt in Zaragoza.
A river aquarium with its own challenges and opportunities
Global Omnium's move to Zaragoza means facing a different aquarium model than the marine or oceanic ones that dominate in Valencia and Seville. The Aragonese facility specializes in river fauna and freshwater ecosystems from different continents, which entails specific requirements for water quality management, tank conditions, and the individual needs of the species.
This river-based approach makes the Zaragoza Aquarium a unique addition to the map of major European aquariums , where facilities focused on marine life predominate. The new concessionaire thus faces the challenge of integrating its experience in conservation and education with a thematic environment centered on rivers and inland wetlands, from major international waterways to the aquatic systems of the Iberian Peninsula.
For visitors, the aim is to maintain the aquarium as a space that combines leisure, tourism, and learning . The proposal involves strengthening interpretive tours and educational resources for diverse audiences: schoolchildren, families, national and international tourists, and people interested in nature and science.
As a public facility, under the auspices of Expo Zaragoza Empresarial, the center is also expected by local authorities to continue serving as a platform for raising awareness about global environmental issues, such as the degradation of river basins, water pollution, and the loss of habitats for fish and amphibians. The presence of an operator with experience in large-scale conservation projects can help Zaragoza play a more significant role in addressing these issues.
In terms of international outreach, Global Omnium's investment is seen as an opportunity to position the Zaragoza aquarium within the international networks of zoological and research centers that already include the Oceanogrà fic and the Seville Aquarium. In the medium term, this could translate into more collaborations, knowledge exchanges, and even participation in European breeding and conservation programs.
Animal welfare, conservation and education as the cornerstones of the new phase
The parties involved agree that the roadmap for the new period revolves around three main pillars: animal welfare, biodiversity conservation, and outreach . Regarding animal care, the company is committed to maintaining standards comparable to those of its other aquariums, integrating veterinary, nutritional, and water quality monitoring protocols based on previous experience.
In the area of ​​conservation, the aim is to strengthen the aquarium's role as a leading center for riverine species , in a context where many rivers are under pressure from intensive use, pollution, and climate change. The intention is for the facility not only to display animals to the public but also to actively participate in habitat protection initiatives and the recovery of threatened populations.
The educational dimension will remain another key focus. Project leaders emphasize that the aquarium must continue to serve as an open classroom for schools and colleges , offering activities, workshops, and guided tours tailored to different grade levels. At the same time, plans include strengthening the offerings for adults with talks, temporary exhibitions, and new cultural activities that connect the visitor experience with current major environmental debates.
The combination of educational outreach and leisure activities aims to solidify the Zaragoza Aquarium as a permanent tourist attraction within the city and the Ebro Valley as a whole. Having a company specializing in the management of large facilities of this type is considered a factor that can help attract new visitors and retain those who already know the aquarium.
With this new management framework, the Zaragoza Aquarium is preparing for a stage in which institutional support and the experience accumulated by Global Omnium combine to ensure its continuity, enhance its offering and reinforce its role as a key space to understand the importance of water and river ecosystems in Spain and throughout Europe.
