The project of the attraction was born with the mission of being an important biodiversity conservation center, supported by the Education, Research and Conservation tripod and brings all the expertise of AquaRio, with the technical support of marine biologists Marcelo Szpilman, AquaRio’s Honorary President, and Rafael Franco, technical manager of the attraction, and with the support of Estudio Cosestudi, an architecture and exhibition design studio with
extensive experience in architectural and exhibition projects for important aquariums around the world, such as: Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium ( Missouri, USA), Lisbon Oceanarium (Portugal), Acquario di Genova (Italy), Tennessee Aquarium (USA) and the future Acquario di Trieste, which is being planned in the city of Trieste (Italy).

For Pablo Morbis, president of the Grupo Cataratas, Foz do Iguaçu gains one more important attraction. “In addition to its significance as a driver of tourism, it was born as a center for the conservation of local biodiversity, promoting studies and research on species that are only found in the region’s hydrographic basins, in addition to educating and making all visitors aware of the need for conservation of the environment.”

Governor Ratinho Junior highlighted that AquaFoz is part of a new cycle of attractions and investments in the city. “Foz do Iguaçu is undergoing a major revolution with the new airport runway, the new bridge “Ponte da Integração” and the duplication of the Rodovia das Cataratas highway. We are creating conditions for Foz to grow yet more and more. “The aquarium is part of that bet and springs from the confidence of the private sector in Paraná”,
he added.

Foz do Iguaçu’s Mayor, Chico Brasileiro, believes that AquaFoz possesses great relevance, as it strengthens tourism in the city and sets itself to be a reference both in Brazil and internationally. “This new investment will generate new jobs and income for Foz do Iguaçu, which is essential, especially at this time when tourism and the economy are regaining pace”. “In addition, it is another option that tourists and residents will have the opportunity to enjoy, as a space for leisure and knowledge about our biodiversity”, he said.

Important Conservation Ally
In the last decades, the Iguassu basin has suffered impacts caused by human action. Its populations of aquatic and semi-aquatic fauna are at risk of extinction, and at least fifteen animal species in this basin are currently impacted by human activities such as deforestation, water pollution, fishing and construction of dams and dikes. AquaFoz’s operations, in this regard, further reinforces its importance as a center for the conservation of regional ecosystems. Acting as a local transforming agent with global impact, AquaFoz will conduct important research on food and reproductive ecology, geographic distribution, conservation and restraints on exotic species. These projects will be sponsored and carried out by AquaFoz, in partnership with research institutes and Brazilian and international universities.

The project will further enrich the tourist offer in one of Brazil’s major tourist destinations, which already has a special and unique relation in the world with the waters – they form the spectacle of the Iguassu Falls, generate power at the Itaipu Dam and bathe the borders between Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.

About Grupo Cataratas

The Grupo Cataratas is the main sustainable tourism company in Brazil, boasting around five million visitors annually. It started its operations in 1999, in the city of Foz do Iguaçu (PR), to manage the visitation in the Iguaçu National Park, on the Brazilian side of the Falls.

It as well operates the EcoNoronha concession, in the Fernando de Noronha National Marine Park, the Three-Borders Landmark, in Foz do Iguaçu, Paineiras Corcovado (official vans that transport visitors to Alto Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro’s Tijuca National Park), Rio de Janeiro’s Marine Aquarium and Rio’s BioPark, one of the oldest zoos in Brazil. Rio’s BioPark has just undergone an important transformation, becoming a wildlife conservation center and will reopen its gates to the public on March 22. The Group’s shareholders are Advent International, Grupo Soifer, Tucumann, Pattac, Cattalini, FSX and GS Participações.

Elected in the last three years as the most sustainable company in the field of tourism and hospitality in Brazil by the Revista Exame magazine, the Grupo Cataratas’s mission is to generate a positive impact through transformative experiences, resignifying the relationship of people with nature as to generate conservation awareness.