[7][5][17][18] After several years without progress, two proposals for relocation—first to an adjacent warehouse and later to a former cinema—were put forward and then abandoned, before the local government settled on a plan to move the museum to a former nightclub.

[23] During this time they developed novel taxidermy methods to better preserve and display giant squid, which involved emptying the mantle of its internal organs and replacing them with a semi-rigid structure constructed from fishing nets, before submerging the whole specimen in a formaldehyde solution.

[7][22][30][31] The frequency of records from the Carrandi fishing grounds off Asturias has been attributed to a confluence of factors, including the presence of three extensive submarine canyons near the coast; the local abundance of the giant squid's favoured prey, blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou); the intensity of the fishing effort in the area; the tendency of local fishermen to report specimens; and the work of CEPESMA in recording and securing specimens.

[15][23][36][37][38] On 7 October 2016, a live adult giant squid was photographed swimming off neighbouring Galicia, marking the first time this had been achieved outside of Japanese waters.

[14][43][44] In November 2002,[45] the growing collection was transferred, with financial help from the Principality of Asturias, to Luarca's Villar youth hostel, where 600 square metres (6,500 sq ft) was made available.

[14][5][44] The giant squid collection was to be publicly displayed there until the construction of the new museum in Luarca port, but these plans were scuppered by humidity problems in the warehouse.

[46] Throughout this time the giant squid collection formed part of a wider exhibit known as Aula del Mar ("Classroom of the Sea"), which also encompassed items related to climate change, cetaceans, turtles, crustaceans, and molluscs.

[45] As a major local tourist attraction, Valdés mayor Juan Fernández Pereiro advocated for the new exhibition to be located in the centre of Luarca where it would receive more visitors.

[3] The building's location, at the end of Luarca port, left it highly exposed to the elements, and it had already suffered storm damage during its construction when a partition wall was washed away.

"[nb 5] On 2 February 2014 the museum was hit by a devastating storm that washed away the building's partition walls, doors, and any loose items inside, including specimens, chairs, and a collection of exhibited paintings.

[5] Museo del Calamar Gigante once held the world's largest collection of giant squid, but many of the museum's specimens were destroyed during the storm.

[63] The destruction of the museum was blamed on the poor quality of the original construction and subsequent repairs, which were described as "a botch" ("una chapuza"), with walls far too thin to withstand the force of the waves and strong winds that might be expected in such an exposed location.

[45][5] Museum director Luis Laria asserted that "if it were made of concrete there would not have been the slightest problem" ("si fuese de hormigón no habría habido ni el más mínimo problema").

[70] Tanks were smashed with fire extinguishers, exhibits and furniture destroyed, televisions and a DVD player stolen, and obscenities scrawled across the walls.

[71] Accounts for collecting donations were opened by St. Timothy's Brotherhood (Cofradía de San Timoteo) in Luarca and CEPESMA volunteers in Gijón.

[7][73][51] On 31 May 2016, Valdés mayor Simón Guardado held a meeting with the Minister of Infrastructure, Belén Fernández, in which it was agreed that a temporary home would be found for the giant squid collection, with a commitment to eventually recover the original museum building.

[74] A demonstration in support of rebuilding Museo del Calamar Gigante was held in front of the abandoned structure in Luarca port on 4 June 2016.

The videos, which showed decaying exhibits (including the life-sized foam giant squid that once greeted visitors) and the damage caused by successive storms and vandalism, sparked considerable online interest.

[68] He received numerous offers to buy the surviving giant squid specimens, with interest from scientific institutions, city councils, banks, and even public figures.

[103] Preliminary plans to relocate the museum to the fishermen's warehouses had already been in place in 2017, when Luis Laria donated his remaining giant squid specimens to Valdés municipal council.

[95][104] Luis Laria stated at the time: "the giant squid represent my past" ("los calamares gigantes representan mi pasado").

[18][93][106] After further delays and inaction, in February 2020 the association Más Luarca Valdés called for "a dignified, solid and definitive solution" ("una solución digna, sólida y definitiva") to the question of the museum's future.

[116] The venue was criticised by People's Party regional deputy Álvaro Queipo as being too small for its intended purpose, at only 290 square metres (3,100 sq ft),[117] and far from the port; Queipo commented that it "is not at the level of what this museum deserves, which has been an international jewel" ("no está a la altura de lo que se merece este museo, que ha sido una joya de ámbito internacional").

[118][119] In March 2021, Valdés mayor Óscar Pérez stated that the giant squid museum was central to his strategy for revitalising the municipality's tourism industry.

[120][121] Pérez opined that the size of the former nightclub was sufficient to meet the museum's requirements, adding: "Being in the urban core area, it will make potential customers pass in front of various businesses such as shops, restaurants… and, therefore, it will favor economic activity.

[125] It was reported that the museum is to be entirely dedicated to the giant squid and its ecology,[114] with exhibits divided between nine thematic zones and including content aimed at children and, at a later date, incorporating virtual reality displays.

[126] The main exhibits are to be housed in a single room of 225 square metres (2,420 sq ft) that will provide a circular tour taking about half an hour to complete,[114] centred on a life-sized giant squid model.

[126] The exterior design of the museum, completed by early May, came in for criticism from some local politicians (particularly the stylised squid logo for its supposed resemblance to male genitalia), as did the rental price of the premises and the cost of its renovation.

[126][127] The location of the new museum remained controversial, with some favouring the original harbour site and others questioning why so much money had been put towards its creation when a world-class collection of giant cephalopods already existed a few kilometres away in CEPESMA's Parque de la Vida.

[128] Following the museum's opening, there are plans for Luarca to host conferences and other events related to large cephalopods, with the local government hoping to secure the cooperation of the University of Oviedo and Parque de la Vida.