REEF Ocean After Hours - Lionfish Jewelry Workshop

September 22, 2026, at 6 p.m. Turn an invasive species into a one-of-a-kind keepsake during Ocean After Hours: Lionfish Jewelry Workshop at the REEF Ocean Exploration Center in Key Largo.

Invasive lionfish are known for their distinctive red-and-white stripes and fanlike fins, but their high reproductive rate and voracious appetites can have significant impacts on marine ecosystems. REEF’s jewelry workshops support efforts to create a consumer market for harvested lionfish, providing another incentive for their removal from Florida Keys waters.

During the workshop, participants will learn about the history of the lionfish invasion, lionfish biology and ecology, environmental impacts, current research, collection techniques, market development, and ways the community can get involved. REEF instructors then lead a step-by-step jewelry-making tutorial using pre-treated lionfish fins.

All lionfish used in REEF’s workshops are locally collected in the Florida Keys or South Florida, with their fins and spines carefully removed and treated for safe handling. Participants can use the prepared fins to create customized jewelry to take home.

Held at the REEF Ocean Exploration Center, 98380 Overseas Highway, the workshop offers a creative way to learn about invasive-species conservation while making something uniquely connected to the Florida Keys. The program and materials fee is currently listed as TBD, so participants should check with REEF for updated registration and pricing information.

Come learn about lionfish, get creative, and turn conservation into wearable art during this unique evening in Key Largo.