The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries named Frank Bakke-Jensen its new director. He will serve a six-year term.
The 55-year-old is also Norway's minister of defense and will continue his duties there. However, he cannot join the office as director of fisheries while he is serving in the Norwegian parliament (Storting).
"I have big, important issues to implement as minister of defense and now my capacity is fully and completely concentrated on defense policy," Bakke-Jensen said.
"There will come a day when I am no longer a minister, and then I look forward to using energy in the fishing industry. I have a burning commitment to the coast, the seafood industry and local business."
The current director of the statistics department, Per Sandberg, will be appointed director of fisheries until a substitute is hired.
The Directorate of Fisheries manages the fishing and aquaculture industry. It also controls and supervises compliance concerning regulations.
The Directorate has around 420 employees at the head office in Bergen and five regions, with a total of 20 offices along the coast.