The Recreation, Tourism and Resiliency Committee received the agreement just 20 hours before its meeting, according to committee Chair Rene Garcia.

“There’s no way we can push out a contract of this magnitude through our committee without having time to vet it,” Garcia said.

The delay could derail the entire deal. Garcia said the bankruptcy court and creditors have indicated that if the contract is not ready by Dec. 31, they will have to put it back out for consideration, potentially putting the agreement with Terra Group at risk.

Terra Group presented its vision for a new Miami Seaquarium in October 2025. More than a year later, CEO David Martin described the plans in an interview with Jackie Nespral for NBC 6's Impact.

“This project is going to have a conservation education center… an amazing aquarium… a huge Baywalk and park space for the community that will not require any ticketed attraction,” Martin said.

The proposed redevelopment also includes working with University of Miami scientists and preserving historic Seaquarium features, including the Golden Dome.

Former Florida environmental official Noah Valenstein said the project would include environmental protections.

“We’re protecting seagrass. There’s no dredging for the project,” Valenstein said.

Garcia said the county needs to ensure the agreement protects marine life and the environment while providing a fair return for taxpayers.

“I want to make sure there’s protection for the marine life… protection for the environment… and that the taxpayer is getting their fair rate of return is what’s really important to me,” Garcia said.

The next step is up to the Miami-Dade County Commission chair, who would have to call an emergency meeting to discuss and approve the contract.

The Miami Seaquarium, a longtime South Florida attraction, has faced an uncertain future in recent years. The redevelopment proposal aims to transform the site into a modern marine education and conservation hub with public access to the waterfront. But the tight deadline and the committee's concerns over the contract's size and substance have raised questions about whether the project can move forward as planned.

Community members and environmental advocates have closely watched the process, emphasizing the need for transparency and protections for Biscayne Bay. The decision now rests with the commission chair, who must decide whether to convene an emergency meeting to consider the contract before the end of the year.