1 February 2012 Last updated at 06:03 ET

Paul Whitehouse opens River Dee salmon season

Comedian and angler Paul Whitehouse formally opens the salmon fishing season on the River Dee

The comedian Paul Whitehouse has opened the salmon season on the River Dee.

The star of The Fast Show, and many other programmes and adverts, was at the official opening ceremony on the riverbank by Potarch Bridge.

It came as Grampian Police announced a new initiative to raise awareness of the potential impact of wildlife crime on the region's waterways.

It will see river crime warning and information boards at nine major salmon fishing rivers.

PC Gavin Lindsay, the force's wildlife crime officer, said: "Grampian's salmon rivers are a huge asset to the region, contributing millions to the economy and providing important habitat for a variety of wildlife.

"However river crime - in particular the poaching of salmon - can have both a serious environmental and economic effect on the river and wider community."