Port Canaveral approves new leases for cargo expansion and aquarium development

Port Canaveral has approved two significant lease agreements aimed at expanding both industrial cargo capacity and regional conservation efforts.

GT USA, a longtime terminal operator, has signed a new lease for up to 25 years to acquire an additional 10 acres of land at the Port’s North Cargo Berth 6. This expansion will include the construction of approximately 170,000 square feet of hurricane-resistant warehouse space to process breakbulk and general cargo, such as steel and lumber.

Additionally, Port Canaveral commissioners approved a 31-year lease with the Brevard Zoo (East Coast Zoological Foundation) to develop the Bowen Aquarium. The project will occupy 14 acres and is intended to serve as a hub for coastal conservation and the recovery of injured sea turtles and manatees. The aquarium project has raised over $70 million, and groundbreaking is anticipated as early as December 2026.