Do you have the image that as a researcher you sit behind a desk every day? Nope! Although most of the work of researcher Jip Vrooman takes place at a desk, she also regularly sails along with the crew of the ship de Krukel.
They fish on a number of fixed spots in the Wadden Sea for a day every month. They identify, count and measure the catch. This way, they know which fish species use the Wadden Sea to grow up and when the area is important for which species.
- Unfortunately, your cookie settings do not allow videos to be displayed. - check your settings
Choosing the sea over land
After secondary school, Jip chose to study Biology because she has always been interested in the animal world. She then followed two masters in Wageningen 'Forest & Nature Conservation' and 'Aquaculture & Marine Resource Management'.
She says: "I chose sea over land and after my studies I started working for the bij Stichting De Noordzee. There, she worked on protected areas and species, the effects of wind farms and various North Sea expeditions.
To be able to do more research herself, she switched to Wageningen Marine Research, where she now works as an ecologist and researcher. This research institute is part of Wageningen University & Research. A kind of homecoming!
I want to contribute to sustainable fisheries and nature management
Monthly monitoring of fish in the Wadden Sea
One of the studies Jip is involved in is the monthly monitoring of fish fauna in the Wadden Sea. This three-year study started in 2019. "By examining which fish are present at the same (six) spots every month, and we see if there are patterns in the figures. Are these expected or unexpected patterns?"
Answers to these kinds of questions contribute to our knowledge of the Wadden Sea, a system that has undergone many changes in recent decades. Ultimately, with more knowledge, we can protect and manage this globally unique area in the right way.
