ACTING AREA DIRECTOR ASSIGNED TO EASTERN NOVA SCOTIA

Dartmouth, NS -- The Department of Fisheries and Oceans today announced the assignment of Gus van Helvoort to the position of Area Director, Eastern Nova Scotia. This assignment was effective May 1, 2000.

The role of Area Director is key to the Department's regional operations. Mr. van Helvoort will be responsible for the management of most of the services and programs provided by DFO in Eastern Nova Scotia, an area extending from Cape North to St. Margaret's Bay as well as the upper reaches of the Bay of Fundy.

Mr. van Helvoort brings a great deal of experience to this position. He has had a long career with the Department, starting in the Conservation and Protection Division, where he began as a Fishery Officer in 1982, working in the Offshore Surveillance section. In 1983 he became the Coordinator, International Observer Program and did a short consultation in West Africa for the FAO on observer programs. In 1985 he became the Staff Officer responsible for Foreign Licensing and Surveillance Analysis.

Mr. van Helvoort joined the staff of the Regional Director; Fisheries Management in 1988 as the Planning and Information Management Officer and in 1993 was Coordinator for the Atlantic Fisheries Adjustment Program (AFAP). From 1994 to 1998 he re-joined the Regional Director's staff first as Chief, Program Management and for the last year as Assistant Regional Director, Fisheries Management.

Since October 1998, Mr. van Helvoort has been on assignment with the Policy and Economics sector as the Project Director for the Fisheries Information System Project (FISP) where he headed the multi-disciplinary team that developed the new licensing and quota systems for the Maritimes and Gulf Regions.

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For More Information:

Wendy Williams
Communications
Fisheries and Oceans
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
(902) 426-6409