New Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs

Lisbeth Berg-Hansen. Photo: Tor Guttormsen/Lofotposten.no

Lisbeth Berg-Hansen was today, Oct. 20, appointed new Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs after Helga Pedersen.

“She knows politics and the seafood industry well. She has even been involved in fish farming for many years, and has been active in fisheries organizations. She is a person who represents coastal Norway. This is important in a time of financial crisis, where we will safeguard jobs on the coast,” said Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg when he presented the new Fisheries and Coastal Minister Lisbeth Berg-Hansen this morning.

Seafood industry experience

The new Fisheries and Coastal Minister has background from the industry, including as a board member of Aker Seafoods ASA and as co-owner and board member of the salmon producer Sinkaberg-Hansen AS. Berg-Hansen is also a board member of companies Bindal Salmon AS and Bindal Smolt AS, and she is a deputy in the Norwegian Seafood Export Council. In the years from 2004 to 2008 she was vice president of NHO.

Political career

Lisbeth Berg-Hansen has a long political career, also involving fisheries and aquaculture. From 1992 to 1996 she was a political advisor in the Ministry of Fisheries. From 2000 to 2001 she was State Secretary at the Prime Minister’s office, during Jens Stoltenberg’s first government.

State Secretary continues

State Secretary Vidar Ulriksen (AP) continues as the Fisheries and Coastal Minister’s secretary. Ulriksen has worked as a fisherman in most of his professional life and been a member of the national board of the Norwegian Fishermen’s Association for ten years, eight of them as deputy. Ulriksen has also been a member of the Executive Board of the National Fishermen’s Bank for ten years, one of those years also as chair.

Source: NSEC