Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Announces Appointment of Interim Chair, Deputy Chair of the PFRCC

Vancouver, May 24, 2005 - Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced the appointment of Dr. Paul LeBlond as interim Chair of the Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council (PFRCC), and Mark Angelo as the Council's interim Deputy Chair. Both currently sit on the Council as members.

Dr. LeBlond and Mr. Angelo will replace the Honourable John Fraser, who has resigned as the Chair of the PFRCC but will remain as a Council member.

Mr. Fraser has been Chair of the PFRCC since its creation in 1998. He completed his term on March 31, 2005. In December 2004, Mr. Fraser was named head of the new Pacific Salmon Forum.

"I want to thank Mr. Fraser for his leadership and dedication to British Columbia's fisheries resources. He brought a wealth of expertise, understanding and a well-recognized independence to his role as Chair over the last seven years, and I am pleased that he has agreed to stay on as a member of the Council," said Minister Regan. "I also wish him much success in his new role as Chair of the Pacific Salmon Forum."

"The PFRCC plays a vital role in advising the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans on Pacific salmon issues, and I feel very fortunate to have been able to contribute advice as Chair of this group," said Mr. Fraser. "At a time when new challenges face fisheries management in British Columbia, I have the utmost confidence that Dr. LeBlond will help lead the PFRCC in addressing key issues."

Dr. LeBlond is an internationally renowned scientist who holds a PhD in physics and oceanography from the University of British Columbia, a BSc in maths and physics from McGill University, and a BA in humanities from Laval University. He was a Professor of Oceanography and Physics at UBC until his retirement in 1996. He is now active in a variety of local, national and international ocean science and conservation forums. Before joining the PFRCC, Dr. LeBlond was one of the original members of the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council for Atlantic Canada. He is member of the Board of Trustees of the Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Science, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

"The members of the PFRCC are drawn from a variety of sectors but we are united in our dedication to salmon conservation. This diversity brings particular depth and balance to the strategic advice which the Council will continue to offer the Minister," said Dr. LeBlond.

Interim Deputy Chair Mark Angelo is a noted river conservationist, outdoor leader, teacher, writer, and founder of BC Rivers Day. He is Program Head and Instructor of the Fish, Wildlife and Recreation Department of the British Columbia Institute of Technology. He is a recipient of the Companion of the Order of Canada and also holds the Order of British Columbia. His river conservation efforts were recently recognized by the United Nations as part of the International Year and Fresh Water and Wonder of Water celebrations.

The PFRCC is an independent body with a mandate to report annually on the status of British Columbia's salmon stocks, their habitat and related ecosystems. PFRCC reports advise the public and governments on salmon conservation issues, and provide recommendations with a long-term, strategic focus. For more information on PFRCC activities go to www.fish.bc.ca.

For more information, contact:

Gordon Ennis
Managing Director PFRCC
604-775-6070

Diane Lake
Fisheries and Oceans
604-666-0939