Silvestro Greco

Silvestro Greco is a marine biologist, expert in the sustainable management of fishery resources and biodiversity conservation. He graduated in Biological Sciences from the University of Messina and began his career at the CNR’s Thalassographic Institute. His career is marked by a strong commitment to oceanographic and environmental fields, having taken part in over one hundred scientific expeditions, including six in Antarctica under the National Research Program (PNRA), from 1989 to 2000.

His research spans various areas of marine biology, with particular focus on coastal resource management, biodiversity, and environmental conservation. He has always combined basic and applied research, aiming to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources and to promote integrated coastal zone management. His work has contributed to a deeper understanding of biological phenomena and to the development of policies for the protection of the marine environment.

One of the areas to which he has dedicated particular attention is aquaculture, with early studies on the reproductive biology and farming of fish species. He developed innovative techniques for the breeding and management of species, with a focus on environmental sustainability. He also studied low-impact methods to integrate aquaculture with other marine activities, such as fishing, promoting sustainable coastal development.

Greco has also conducted extensive research in fishery biology and management, aiming to improve the assessment and management of marine resources. His studies on the biology of fish species, population dynamics, and fishing gear have provided useful tools for the integrated management of marine resources, particularly for commercially valuable demersal species. He has carried out resource monitoring activities, developing a biocenotic analysis of the Tyrrhenian areas, essential for biodiversity protection and the effective management of fish stocks.

In the field of conservation, Greco conceived and led the "Afrodite System" project, the first comprehensive study of Italian marine protected areas, and took part in research on the Cetacean Sanctuary. These projects included satellite tagging of whales and swordfish, leading to significant discoveries, such as the identification of a new winter feeding area for the fin whale in the Strait of Sicily. His research on marine biodiversity was further consolidated with the MoBIOMARCAL program, which monitored the biodiversity of the Calabrian seas, yielding unique results.

He is currently leading scientific impact assessments for offshore wind farms in Italy, managing the planning of studies for 13 sites.

He has held leadership roles in research institutions such as ICRAM - ISPRA and the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, where from 2018 to 2024 he directed the regional offices in Rome and Calabria, also serving as Vice President and Acting President.

Throughout his career, he has combined research with a strong institutional commitment, serving as scientific advisor to the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Agricultural Policies, and as a member of international bodies including CIESM (Commission Internationale pour l'Exploration Scientifique de la Mer Méditerranée), as well as national bodies such as the National Scientific Committee for Antarctica and the Italian Oceanographic Commission. From 2008 to 2010, he served as Regional Minister for the Environment of Calabria and coordinated regional environmental ministers within the State-Regions Conference.

Author of over 180 scientific publications, including more than 100 articles in international journals and 4 books, he has also contributed to academic training as a lecturer at the University of Naples Federico II and the Pontifical Antonianum University of Rome.

Among the honors he has received are the titles of Commander and Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. He continues to work in scientific research and outreach, promoting environmental sustainability and the responsible management of marine resources.

Delegate of Institutional Relations

Director of Sustainability and Circular Economy Lab