Join us Read
Listen
Watch
Book
Our Planet Climate and Geopolitics

How strangers ring a bell for Dutch fish

How strangers ring a bell for Dutch fish

The “fish doorbell” is back to help Utrecht’s aquatic population navigate canals. Fish swim through the Dutch city every spring in search of a place to spawn and reproduce – but the Weerdsluis lock in the west of the city is rarely opened at this time of year. To help fish on their way, the city introduced a fish doorbell four years ago, manned by strangers on the internet. Volunteers can tune into a livestream of an underwater camera and when they see a fish, they can press a digital door bell which alerts the lock operator. The bell has been a big hit on social media. Viewers of the livestream sometimes pause to identify different species before ringing the bell. Want to put a finger on the button? Visit the fish doorbell website.


Enjoyed this article?

Sign up to the Daily Sensemaker Newsletter

A free newsletter from Tortoise. Take once a day for greater clarity.



Tortoise logo

A free newsletter from Tortoise. Take once a day for greater clarity.



Tortoise logo

Download the Tortoise App

Download the free Tortoise app to read the Daily Sensemaker and listen to all our audio stories and investigations in high-fidelity.

App Store Google Play Store

Follow:


Copyright © 2025 Tortoise Media

All Rights Reserved