He got his degree in Biology at Genoa University in 1977. From 1978 to 1982 he has been involved in research on the assessment of fishing resources in the Ligurian Sea. From 1983 to 1987, as researcher of the National Research Council, he carried out biological and ecological studies on fishing species in the Sicily Straits area. Since 1987 he is researcher at ICRAM (Istituto Centrale Ricerca Applicata al Mare). He is the scientific supervisor of research projects targeting the biology and management of ichthyological fauna and the protection of coastal areas. Since 1987 he takes part in the Italian National Antarctic Research Programme (PNRA), as project leader in research on nekton and fisheries resources. He contributes to the international actions for the protection of threatened fish species, as a member of the IUCN within the "Shark Specialist Group".He has published over 100 papers in national and international scientific journals.