H&DAS 75th Birthday Bash and CAOAC Convention Speaker Bio

Dean Baayens

Born and raised in Alberta, Dean Baayens is a pharmacist and former fisheries professional. 
Dean has continuously kept tropical aquarium fish since the early 80’s and worked/volunteered on fisheries conservation projects in Alberta since 1990.  Most notably, he was one of the initial driving forces behind Trout Unlimited Canada’s Fish Rescue (from irrigation canals) and the Quirk Creek Brook Trout Suppression Project, as well as a co-author of Alberta’s Salmonid Identification Course. 

He is a current board member of the Calgary Aquarium Society (BAP Coordinator) and maintains 30 planted aquariums where he primarily breeds nano-fish and shrimp with a focus on blue eyes, rice fish, corydoras catfish, rare livebearers and neocaridina shrimp. He also maintains a modest YouTube channel, Aguabonita, where he describes his fishkeeping experiences and helps others to be successful in our joyful hobby.  Dean is a life-long fish enthusiast and has pursued a broad range of aquatic interests as a hobby breeder, aquascaper, fisheries professional, environmental advocate and professional angler.