A GROUP of young people from an innovative project will take part in the ceremony to mark the start of the salmon season at Kenmore on Monday, writes Ken Bell, angling correspondent.

The six young anglers, from East Renfrewshire, are members of Angling for Youth Development (AFYD), an initiative aiming to interest young people in fishing and divert them from anti-social behaviour.

Martin Johnstone (17) will make one of the first casts in the first boat of anglers to go out, after it is “blessed” with a quaich of whisky by environmentalist and television personality Professor David Bellamy.

Barry Fowler, director of the Taymouth Group Ltd, the company behind the multi-million pound development of Taymouth Castle and estate, said, “AFYD has proved to be extremely popular in various parts of the country and shows that fishing is a pastime for all ages.

“The Tay is the first major salmon river to open and the celebrations and traditional procession add a real sense of occasion to the event, which will hopefully inspire these young people who we are all pleased to welcome to Kenmore.”

PC George Knight of Strathclyde Police, who will accompany AFYD members, added, “Since its launch in 2004, AFYD has demonstrated that involving youngsters in a pursuit that makes demands of them can raise their levels of confidence and social responsibility.”

Grev Humphrey, a former community liaison officer with Tayside Police and an organiser of the opening of the salmon season said he hoped AFYD would be launched in Tayside in 2006.

The opening of the salmon season, at Kenmore, is sponsored by Dewar’s World of Whisky at Aberfeldy Distillery.

Events on Monday will start at 10 am when Prof Bellamy will address assembled guests in Kenmore Village Square before a procession to the river at 10.15 and the traditional blessing of the boat with whisky at 10.30.

Broadcaster, author and fishing enthusiast Fiona Armstrong will attend, as well as speaking in Aberfeldy.

She will give a talk on her love of fishing and her career at Dewar’s World of Whisky.

The former ITN broadcaster will be at the visitor centre from 3 pm to chat abouther experiences as a writer and a fisher.

“Men outnumber women ten to one in the world of angling but research suggests that a large number of women are keen to take up the sport and we must encourage this,” she said.