A Bell for the Fish

How Utrecht Empowers the Public to Support its Aquatic Ecosystem

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Every spring, the historic city of Utrecht faces a challenge. To protect the city from flooding, the canal barriers are closed. However, this necessary measure poses a challenge for the large populations of fish that every spring migrate upstream in search of warmer waters and spawning grounds. The barriers, meant to protect the city, were also stopping fish from going to their breeding grounds. It was a tricky situation that needed a solution.

Four years ago, the city came up with a clever idea. They installed an underwater camera near a river barrier and started streaming a live video. This allows anyone in the world to see the fish trying to swim past.

But the purpose of the project, playfully, called “Bell for the Fish,” goes beyond mere observation. Next to the video, there is a button. When you see a fish trying to get through, you can press the button. This takes a photo, which gets collected with other photos. When there are enough fish, the lock is opened, letting them pass.

It's a brilliant idea. It turns the entire project into a collaborative effort, a wonderful way to engage the community and support the local ecosystem by ensuring the fish can reach their spawning grounds. I have put the live stream at the edge of the screen, and I have been looking at it for more than an hour. I haven't seen any fish yet.

Watch the live stream here.