The three-year trial extension of the salmon fishing season on the River Dee in Aberdeenshire looks to be made permanent.

Mark Bilsby, River Director of the Dee District Salmon Fishery Board and River Dee Trust, said: “We expect the legislation to be laid before the Scottish Parliament in the near future. The impact of changes in the ocean, leading to later salmon runs, has prompted us to forge ahead with this adjustment to the season. We are confident that having first checked that there would be no damage to salmon populations and with our tried and tested conservation policy the extension is appropriate for the river during these difficult economic times”.

In 2007 the Dee District Salmon Fishery Board applied to the Scottish Government for permission to extend the angling season from September 30 to October 15 from 2008-2010. This was granted, allowing beats to benefit from increasing autumn runs.

Monitoring has been undetaken during this period to ascertain whether the extensionhad the potential to harm the Dee salmon stock. All salmon and sea trout caught were released during this period.

The start of the Dee's 2012 salmon fishing season will be celebrated tomorrow (Wednesday) with an official opening ceremony on the riverbank by Potarch Bridge. Actor, writer, comedian and regular Dee fisher Paul Whitehouse will be the guest of honour and will formally open the river.