The Government has brought forward a merger between the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Fisheries by more than six months.
In March, the Cabinet approved the merging of the ministries, effective from February 2012.
However, State Services Minister Tony Ryall said on Friday the merger will now occur on 1 July this year.
Mr Ryall says creating a single, legal entity at the start of the financial year reduces administrative duplication and cost.
He says it will enable the ministries to work as one as they design and implement a new organisational structure, expected to be in place in October.
