The Dutch central city of Utrecht has set up a “fish doorbell” on a river rock where viewers from online livestream alert authorities can catch fish they’re fishing as they make the transition to a spring spawning ground.
The idea is simple. Utrecht’s Weerdsluis Lock’s underwater cameras send live footage to the website.
When people viewing the site are looking at the fish, they can click the button to send a screenshot to the organizer. Once they see enough fish, they warn water workers who are unlocked to pass through the fish.
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Now in its fifth year, the site has attracted millions of viewers from around the world with a quirky combination of slow television and ecological activity.
Often, the screen is murky green with occasional bubbles, but sometimes the fish pass. As the water warms up, more fish appear.
A photo of a fish school with perches in the left corner of a river confinement in the central city of Utrecht, Netherlands, will feature a “fish doorbell” to allow viewers of online livestream warning authorities to raise fish as they move to shallow egg laying. (visdeurbel via ap) Photos of fish on perches on river rocks in the central city of Utrecht, Netherlands, will have a “fish doorbell” set up to ensure that online live stream warning authorities will hold out as they move the fish shallowly into spawning grounds. (visdeurbel via ap) An outdated photo of a breamfish on a river rock in the central city of Utrecht, Netherlands. There, “fish doorbells” will be set up to lift fish as viewers from online livestream warning authorities move the fish shallowly into the spawning ground. (visdeurbel via AP)
Without help, native freshwater fish like breams, pikes and bass can be backed up behind the rocks and form easy prey for predators in the spring.
Bell is the brainchild of ecologist and concept developer Mark Van Fuchelom. He was delighted with the response, and has been tuned by millions of people around the world over the years.
“I think a combination of justification, beautiful stories and simple ideas creates all this attention,” he said.
Rashid Ouchen opened a lock in Utrecht, Netherlands on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, with a “fish doorbell” set up, allowing viewers from online livestream warning authorities to fish and fish as they move to the spring spawning grounds. (AP Photo/Aleksandar Furtula)
Anna Nijis, an ecologist at Utrecht Municipality, was also surprised by the popularity of the concept around the world.
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“We’ve got a lot of fan mail from people who think it’s slow TV and they feel it’s relaxing,” Nijs said. What’s more, “They are grateful that they can actually do something to help with something.”
The Hague Associated Press Writer Microphone Coder contributed.
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