Steven Degraer started his scientific career in benthic ecology of intertidal and shallow subtidal temperate marine ecosystems at Ghent University. After his PhD research (Ghent University, 1999), he started broadening his research: from temperate to tropical ecosystems, from sandy to rocky coasts, from benthos to avifauna and from fundamental to applied research. Marine management, focusing on nature conservation and sustainable use and exploitation of the marine resources, has always been the red line through his work. Since 2008, he is coordinating the Marine Ecology and Management (MARECO) team of the Institute of Natural Sciences, with a broad expertise on marine mammals and seabirds, rocky shore fauna and invasive species, and underwater noise, embedded in an ecosystem management context.