March 2024 Friday’s e-links: The Fish Doorbell

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I like to think of them as my e-links:

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Friday’s e-links 3/29/24

I first heard about the “Fish Doorbell” through the BBC’s Global News Report Happy Pod. Then, I was delighted that Atlas Obscura had more detail. Our story takes us to Utrecht in the Netherlands. In Utrecht’s harbor, locks and dams blocked the fish that were heading for the Kromme River where they spawn and reproduce. Consequently, their journey prematurely ended.

Now though, the fish that approach the Weerdsluis, or Weerd Lock, are surely mystified that it opens to let them through.

The lock opens because ecologist Mark van Heukelum devised a system through which any of us can monitor YouTube for the traveling fish. Seeing one at the lock, we just notify the boat lock manager. During its first seaon, the Fish Doorbell, or Visdeurbel rang 100,000 times. Eels, perch, and pike were among the sited fish. Next Spring will be its fourth season.