Joep de Leeuw

Joep de Leeuw is a Researcher at Wageningen Marine Research, part of Wageningen University & Research, specializing in Dutch aquatic ecosystems with expertise in fish ecology, eel conservation, and climate adaptation in freshwater systems.

His core research areas include:

• European eel (Anguilla anguilla) population dynamics and conservation
• Smelt fisheries management in IJsselmeer/Markermeer
• Ecological restoration of wetlands (Marker Wadden project)
• Climate change impacts on freshwater biodiversity
• Food web interactions in modified aquatic environments
• Stakeholder-engaged living lab approaches

Recent publications reveal a strong applied focus on translating ecological research into management solutions, particularly through habitat restoration (wetland islands), fisheries regulation frameworks, and advanced monitoring techniques like PIT tagging. His work consistently addresses the tension between human activities and ecosystem resilience in Dutch inland waters.

Scientific Awards: None documented in source materials.

Dr. de Leeuw leads multiple LVVN-funded projects including KIMA2.0 (Marker Wadden climate adaptation, 2023-2026) and smelt fisheries ecological criteria development (2024), collaborating with government agencies, NGOs, and research institutes to bridge science and water policy.

As a key member of Wageningen Marine Research's freshwater team, he coordinates field studies across the Netherlands while maintaining international collaborations including Arctic seabird diet research through DNA metabarcoding partnerships.