Fish Doorbell: Assisting the Migration of Fish
- Keira Ha
- Sep 2, 2025
- 2 min read
Visdeurbel, or Fish Doorbell, is a unique invention that, with the help of people across the globe, allows migrating fishes to pass through a locked gate in the canals of the Netherlands. In 2024, it garnered the interest of 2.7 million viewers worldwide. This year, from March 3, 2025 to late May, the project will be online for anyone to participate in.
On the website visdeurbel.nl viewers may click a virtual button when they see a fish in order to take a photo. An on-site lock keeper sees these photos, and will open the gate once enough fish have gathered.
“I was fascinated [by Visdeurbel], as I have never seen an environmental solution like this one. I also found the solution to be quite unorthodox, combining the concept of doorbells with live cameras,” says Jayden Ha, an Earl Haig senior with an interest in the environment.
This project was initiated because fishes migrating in parts of the Netherlands usually follow a path that is obstructed by a manually operated lock. When the gate is closed, the fishes have to wait for an extended period of time, making them vulnerable to predators. The delay also wastes their time and energy, which are necessary for their lengthy journey.
According to Tanya Tan, an Earl Haig student familiar with the project, there were specific “circumstances making it difficult for a person to constantly monitor and control […] the water gates for fish to pass.” This means that simply hiring a lock keeper wouldn’t suffice.
“The fish doorbell is definitely a good symbol showing that significant innovations do not always have to be flashy, but can be quite simple.” Jayden expresses. “I hope this will be one of many technologies that will solve similar biological issues.”
Similarly, Tanya Tan is enthusiastic about the project, and believes that the initiative is an opportunity to improve community engagement, as “initially, people may only be drawn in by the idea of opening doors to let fishes pass, but they will notice the water shown in the underwater monitor camera and wonder why it looks murky. This may lead them to research what a healthy living environment for the fishes looks like, or inspire them to notice the condition of bodies of water around them.”
Presently, the Visdeurbel has done more than helping fish migrate. It also allows the municipality of Utrecht to keep track of which species of fish are swimming in their waterways. This information is used to improve the quality of underwater life in Utrecht, as the municipality can assess which forms of shelter they should provide for aquatic life.
The Visdeurbel initiative is Utrecht’s way of giving back to their aquatic life, which are deeply valued by the city as they contribute to biodiversity and healthy water. Perhaps with rapidly expanding applications of technology in biology, this innovation can evolve to further improve the quality of life for beloved local aquatic animals.
Comments