Dr. Steven Degraer started his scientific career in benthic ecology of intertidal and shallow subtidal temperate marine ecosystems at Ghent University. After his PhD research (1999), he broadened his research focus: 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, which finally brought him to RBINS' Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models in 2008; now: Operational Directorate Natural Environment (OD Nature). He is now coordinating OD Nature's Marine Ecology and Management team with a broad expertise in marine mammals and seabirds, rocky shore fauna and invasive species, and underwater noise, embedded in an ecosystem management context. He further holds a research and teaching visiting professorship at the Biology Department of Ghent University. Steven Degraer (co)authored over 400 publications, of which 100+ a1-publications.