Making recovery possible for species at risk
Biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada to present on partnership work helping with recovery of fish, mussel populations in nationally important Ausable River
Species at Risk Biologist Shawn Staton, Team Leader for Ontario with the Species at Risk Program of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, is to speak at ABCA Partner Appreciation Evening about work in partnership for recovery of aquatic species at risk in the nationally significant Ausable River watershed
Recovering Aquatic Species at Risk in the Ausable River Watershed: The Power of Partnerships is the presentation topic at the annual Partner Appreciation Evening hosted by Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
The keynote presenter is Shawn Staton, Team Leader for Ontario with the Species at Risk Program of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. “The Ausable River is home to an incredible diversity of rare fish and freshwater mussels,” he said. “I am excited and honoured to share my experiences partnering with the ABCA in the ongoing work to recover aquatic species at risk within this nationally significant watershed.”
Since 2003, Shawn Staton has been working for Fisheries and Oceans Canada as a Species at Risk Biologist, leading the development and implementation of recovery programs for fish and mussel species at risk. He has a BSc in Biology from the University of Guelph. He has been working as an aquatic biologist for more than 25 years. He knows the Ausable River well and is co-author of the Action Plan for the Ausable River: An Ecosystem Approach (written along with Ausable Bayfield Conservation’s Kari Jean and Mari Veliz).
The Ausable River Action Plan document outlines detailed steps to protect populations of the Northern Riffleshell; Snuffbox; Kidneyshell; Mapleleaf; Rainbow; Lake Chubsucker; Pugnose Shiner; and Eastern Sand Darter species in the Ausable River in Canada.
The Ausable River Action Plan is available on a web page of the Government of Canada's Canada.ca website.
The partner appreciation event takes place at Ironwood Golf Club. Ironwood Golf Club is located at 70969 Morrison Line, two kilometres east of Exeter, south of Highway 83. It is free to attend the Partner Appreciation Evening but seating is limited and interested people are asked to reserve one week ahead of the event.
There is a complimentary, light supper served at the Partner Appreciation Evening. To attend the event, please reply, to ABCA, by Thursday, March 19, 2026, for meal numbers. You may reply/RSVP to Corporate Services Assistant Micaela Lubberts. She can be reached by email (mlubberts@abca.ca) or by phone at 519-235-2610, or toll-free 1-888-286-2610, extension 221. (You are asked to let organizers know if you have dietary restrictions).
Ausable Bayfield Conservation will announce the Conservationist of the Year Award winner at the March 26 event. There will also be years of service awards for Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority directors and staff.
To find out more about the Partner Appreciation Evening visit the abca.ca website and the Conservation Award web page link.