Salmon poacher netted by fish's microchip

RIVER bailiffs tracked down a poacher because he had caught a fish fitted with a microchip transmitter. The tiny microprocessor in the salmon's stomach put out a radio bleep which was picked up by the patrolmen and which led them to the home of Paul Williams, 19, a forester, of Bala in north Wales.

Salmon in the River Dee had been fitted with the transmitters to check their migratory habits.

Williams, the first poacher to be caught out by the high technology, was ordered to do 200 hours community service and pay pounds 125 costs by Bala magistrates yesterday. He was banned from holding a fishing licence for three years, given a 12-month conditional discharge and had poaching equipment confiscated. Williams had admitted at a previous court to four poaching offences, theatening behaviour and having poaching equipment.

Dafydd Jones, for the prosecution, said four salmon weighing between six and seven pounds had been found at Williams's home.

Iestyn Harris, for the defence, said: 'He is the victim of a general attitude prevailing in rural areas that fishing offences are not to be considered as grave.'