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Salmon fishing season kicks off
02/02/2009
The 2009 salmon fishing season on the River Dee got underway today.
Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead, who attended the opening ceremony at Portarch Bridge, Deeside, said:
"Recent years have been enormously prosperous for salmon catches in Scotland, bringing good news to a number of rural communities in these difficult economic times. Rod and line catches are around as high as they've been in the last 50 years and much of this has been down to the increasing popularity of 'catch and release' fishing as opposed to anglers keeping their spoils.
"The Dee is one of Scotland's 'big four' salmon rivers, generating millions for the local economy, and supporting hundreds of jobs. The Dee Fishery Board have undertaken a number of conservation measures and the sustainable and sensible management of the river will ensure that freshwater fishing makes a significant contribution to the area for many years to come. I am delighted to be able to attend this year's official opening and like the people of Deeside hope to see another profitable year in 2009."
River Director of the River Dee District Salmon Fishery Board said:
"We can look forward to the coming salmon season with some optimism. All the work carried out in the Dee catchment over the last decade is paying dividends."
The Dee District Salmon Fishery Board is the statutory body responsible for the protection, preservation and development of salmon and sea trout fisheries in the Dee system.