Gilles Lecaillon

CEO OF ECOCEAN, FRANCE

Gilles Lecaillon is a marine biologist and an internationally recognized expert on marine ecological restoration. He has over 20 years of field experience and he has pioneered the Post-larval Capture and Culture (PCC) technology in both tropical and temperate marine waters. His work focuses on the biology and ecology of fish larvae.

Gilles Lecaillon is also the founder and president of Ecocean (2003), a leading french ecological engineering company which specializes in developing and implementing radical new technologies for the sustainable use and management of the marine environment. Ecocean's preeminent expertise of the early life stage of fish in coastal environments unusually allows the company to cooperate on multiple ongoing joint R&D projects with major French and international research institutions (IFREMER, CNRS, NOAA), universities, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. In order to do so, Gilles and his team use a unique combination of specially designed and scientifically validated artificial nursery habitats (Biohut ©) and PCC restocking technology (BioRestore ©). Ecocean's technology is supported by the French Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, the Man and Biosphere Program (MAB/UNESCO), the Commission of Sustainable Development (UN), and certified as Good Practice by the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI).

Gilles holds a degree in applied oceanology from the University of Barcelona, a master’s degree in marine environment from the University of Perpignan (France), and a master’s degree in biological oceanology and marine environment from Paris VI Sorbonne.