The building was designed by engineer Van Oordt and was originally known as the 'Fish Palace' due to its neoclassical aesthetic.
The resident sperm whale skeleton measures approximately 23 meters in length.
The collection includes over 2,000 distinct specimens of mollusks and seashells.
The museum serves as a permanent research base for the Instituto de Pesca.
The grounds feature an outdoor tank that once held live marine specimens for public display.
The architecture reflects the early 20th-century urban expansion policies of the São Paulo state government.
The Museu de Pesca is housed in a historic 1908 building originally constructed to serve as the headquarters for the State Fisheries Department. The museum's most prominent feature is a massive, well-preserved skeleton of a sperm whale that washed ashore in 1951. Its collection spans diverse marine themes, including regional fishing history, taxidermy of local marine fauna, and an extensive variety of seashells from around the world. The exhibits are distributed across two floors, documenting both the biological diversity of the Atlantic coast and the evolution of fishing technology in Brazil. The facility is managed by the Santos municipal government and emphasizes educational outreach regarding maritime heritage. It is located at the extreme end of the Santos beachfront, bordering the entrance to the city's main shipping channel.
Beneath the massive sperm whale skeleton in the main hall.
Combine your visit with a walk to the nearby Ponta da Praia pier for views of passing cargo ships.
Check the upper floor first, as it houses the majority of the biological and taxidermy displays.
The museum is smaller than it appears from the exterior; pace your visit accordingly.
Assuming the outdoor tanks are still active for viewing live animals; they are largely decorative today.
Closed on Mondays.
No flash photography in areas with fragile biological specimens; maintain a quiet tone.
