As the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries heads towards extinction next week its Director, John Barnes, has been mulling his future career options.

As of Monday, the department will be officially disbanded and replaced by two new departments - Conservation Services and Environmental Protection.

The post of Director of Agriculture and Fisheries will disappear come Monday and Mr. Barnes, 48, will act as the director of the new departments until the posts are filled, according to Permanent Secretary Brian Rowlinson.

As to what his options might be thereafter, Mr. Rowlinson said that the procedures laid down in the Civil Service Code of Conduct were being followed.

The Royal Gazette understands that the options include early retirement or another senior position within the civil service.

"The jury's still out," said Mr. Barnes when asked what he will be doing in the future. But he indicated that, for at least the next several months, his services will be needed in his current capacity. "We still have a few irons in the fire... the show must go on. It's early days yet."

The director's post is a statutory position and is referred to in various pieces of legislation including the Agriculture Act 1930 and the Fisheries Act 1972 and related regulations, all of which will have to be amended to reflect the changes.

Mr. Barnes has served over 16 years in the department - 11 of those as its director.

The two new departments will command a combined current account budget of $7 million. While the $3.1 million-budget Department of Environmental Protection will have a staff of 28, the Department of Conservation Services, budgeted at $3.9 million, will have 44 staff. Government advertised the post of directors for both departments last week, specifying an April 3 closing date. Qualifications include a Master's degree in the environmental sciences and ten years post qualification experience. Salaries have been tentatively set at $108,769.

Mr. Rowlinson acknowledged that teething problems were inevitable but described progress towards the restructuring as "very positive".

"There's great enthusiasm from colleagues. The new budget for April 1 has been prepared, training is underway and the job descriptions have been reviewed and revised when necessary."

Staff will not be physically relocated immediately, he said.

"For the first month, and until further notice, there will be no physical moves of any personnel. So members of the public who have been dealing with the department will be on the same telephone numbers and addresses for at least the first month and we will be publishing an advisory notice as and when personnel moves."

Services provided by the department will be split up between Conservation Services, to be finally located at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, and Environmental Protection which will end up at the Botanical Gardens and the Coney Island facility now housing the Fisheries Division.

Mr. Rowlinson said that major moves will not be made until after this year's Ag Show, and the department's Tudor Farm, Southampton facility is being refurbished first to accommodate the animal husbandry division.

"It's going to be a fairly lengthy and incremental process of moving staff," he said.