Danae-Athena Kapasakali (Erasmus Mundus MSc in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, EMBC) is a marine biologist and a well experienced marine invertebrate taxonomist. Her work focuses on the biodiversity and functioning of benthic communities on hard substrates, with special interest in anthropogenic impacts effects, best conservation and management practices, and restoration initiatives. She is coordinating the implementation of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive and Habitats Directive monitoring programmes for the natural hard substrate communities in Belgian marine waters. She is currently involved in two oyster restoration projects (BELREEFS, BLUE CONNECT), and the ELASMON project on the monitoring for the protection of elasmobranchs in the Belgian part of the North Sea. Lastly, she is responsible for the management of the MARECO lab facilities in Ostend.