After starting my career as a veterinarian, I specialized in marine biology, environmental economics and eco-anthropology, focusing since 2005 on the role of sharks in tropical ecosystems. I am an etho-ecologist: I study the behavior of large sharks in their environment, with a focus on bites on humans. The author of numerous scientific articles and several books, I advocate for shark conservation through the media and conferences. Passionate about diving since the age of 5, I am a national freediving instructor, a commercial diver and professional drone pilot, a private airplane pilot, a director of award-winning TV documentaries and an all-round globe-trotter, with an eclectic career that includes underwater photography and rugby.
Career
Rugby, the first school
Fly-half then center, from Étoile Sportive Gimontoise to Paris Université Club (first division), via Colomiers and Lombez-Samatan.
Veterinary studies at the ENVT
National Veterinary School of Toulouse — discovering ethology with Professor QUEINNEC.
A veterinarian in the tropics
Tropical livestock farming in Dominica (Caribbean).
Desert veterinarian — Mauritania
Field campaigns, necropsies of stranded cetaceans, a private pilot license at the Saint-Exupéry flying club of Nouakchott and bird counts over the Banc d’Arguin.
First book
“La chasse sous-marine”, reissued in 2014 and 2018 — and a first scientific publication, in ornithology.
Commercial diver
Class 1 (INPP Marseille), then Class 2 in 2010 — underwater videography and scientific diving across every ocean.
Palme d’or in Antibes
“À bout de souffle, la baleine bleue de Prony”, awarded at the World Festival of Underwater Pictures.
New Caledonia
Research on reefs and marine mammals, documentaries for France Ô and ARTE, tagging of the first tiger sharks.
Doctorate at the EPHE
At 40 — the start of more than 125 rank-A publications, up to NATURE and SCIENCE.
National freediving instructor
CMAS-FFESSM, after the federal instructor certification obtained in 1996.
Feeding as a scientific tool
First published study on the artificial provisioning of lemon sharks in Moorea — the beginning of the work on bites.
Papeete — High Commission
Territorial delegate for Research in French Polynesia.
“Requins d’Océanie”
Co-written with anthropologist Jean Guiart — sharks in the cosmogonies of the Pacific.
First mission to Clipperton
The beginning of a lasting commitment to protecting La Passion atoll.
“Problem individuals”
With John Linnell, demonstration of the relevance of the hypothesis within large shark populations (Conservation Letters).
PROGENIR validated
Individual genetic profiling of biting sharks published — and the beginning of the partnership with CRESSI.
Professional drone pilot
License obtained for remote genetic sampling — killer whales in the Subantarctic (2023).
Repeat-biting sharks proven
First evidence that the same shark can bite several times (Conservation Letters).
Veterinarians For Biodiversity
Scientific direction of the Sharks & Rays Working Group — and appointment to the advisory board of La Passion-Clipperton.
Two major books
“Le requin singulier” (CNRS Éditions) and “Dans la tête d’un requin” (Éditions BELIN) — the synthesis of twenty years of research.
See also
Shark Profiler
Profiling biting sharks: forensic science, behavioral ecology and ethology.
Professional diver
Class 2 commercial diver, rebreathers, underwater videography across every ocean.
Behavioral veterinarian
From veterinary school to shark ethology: understanding behavior to better manage bites.
Cameraman & film director
Award-winning documentaries — Canal+, ARTE, France Télévisions.
Professional freediver
National freediving and spearfishing instructor, author of “La Chasse sous-marine moderne”.
Airplane & drone pilot
Private airplane pilot and professional drone pilot — aerial counts and remote sampling.