Silvia Paoletti (B.Sc. in Biology, University of Pisa, Italy & M.Sc. in Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management, Ghent University, Belgium) is a marine biologist with expertise in marine conservation, environmental monitoring, ecosystem-based management and fisheries. At the Institute of Natural Sciences, she investigates marine mammals’ distribution and behaviour in response to different anthropogenic activities using data collected through aerial surveys and passive acoustic monitoring, with a focus on the impacts of offshore renewable energy development on harbour porpoise in Belgian waters, and the impacts of vessel traffic and collision on larger cetaceans (LIFE-SEADETECT).