Trond Rismo poses with a clipfish in a store in Portugal, the main market for Norwegian exports of this variety.
Photo: Norwegian Seafood Council.
The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) has announced the resignation of its envoy to Portugal, Trond Rismo, of whom it said he has found a new employer. After 9 years at the NSC, he will leave when his term at the market ends on August 1.
In announcing the news, the Director of Global Operations of the Norwegian Seafood Council, Børge Grønbech, took stock of the still envoy to Portugal's time in the organization. "It is unfortunate to lose a very capable colleague," he said.
"Through various roles in the Seafood Council, Trond Rismo has helped give conventional products a significant boost. The entire industry has benefited from this, especially during the three years he has served as seafood envoy to Portugal," Grønbech added.
Since he arrived at the NSC in 2016, Trond Rismo has held various positions all of them focused primarily on whitefish and the conventional sector. Now, the organization said in its statement, he has accepted a new job in another part of the seafood industry, so the Council is considering what actions to take.
"His new role is not related to conventional products. Nevertheless, we will consider what measures may be necessary from a competition perspective," Børge Grønbech explained.
Announcing his resignation as NSC envoy to Portugal, Rismo himself took stock of his years with the organization. "I am proud of my time at the Seafood Council," he said.
"It has been rewarding to work with talented people both within the company and in the seafood industry. There is a time for everything, so after my time in Tromsø, followed by three great years in Portugal, I am looking forward to new opportunities," Trond Rismo concluded.
The Norwegian Seafood Council will now have to find a replacement to take the lead in a key market for Norwegian seafood exports, especially clipfish. With an average intake of 17.5 kg per person per year, the Portuguese are world champions in clipfish consumption. One-third of Norwegian cod was destined for the Portuguese market in 2023.
More recently, strong demand in Portugal contributed to an increase in the value of its exports in the first quarter of 2025, when Norwegian clipfish reached NOK 1.5 billion, corresponding to 20,309 tons, with Portugal being the largest destination market, followed by Brazil and the Dominican Republic. As reported by WeAreAquaculture, in all three, it has been the king of the Easter tables.
