The position was created 1 July 1946. Between 2004 and 2013 the minister held the name of Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs reflecting a broadening in responsibility for the ministry. When Solberg's Cabinet took office, the minister was again called Minister of Fisheries and did no longer have responsibilities for coastal affairs.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs was abolished in January 2014, but the minister post was kept, and now heads responsibilities for fisheries in the new Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, alongside the Minister of Trade and Industry.[1]