Laurent is a marine biologist who hold a Ph.D. in fish ecology and an engineer degree in the science and technology of water.

Laurent began is career in marine biology in 1993 when he conducted a study that linked habitat characteristics of coral reefs in French Polynesia with the structure of fish communities. He then participated to a large-scale study funded by the European Union that examined the settlement intensity, growth and mortality rates of sparid fishes from Spain to Italy. In 1998, Laurent left his native France and worked two years in Australia where he deployed light-traps to describe settlement patterns of coral reef fishes. He also analysed otoliths to examine the role of size-selective mortality in fish population dynamic. Laurent then moved to Florida where he has been involved in a two-years project on the management of ornamental fisheries. The goal of this project was to quantify the net contribution of artificial reefs on fish production, including the positive effects of providing new habitat, the negative effects of attracting fish away from natural reefs, the negative effects of harvesting, and the compensatory responses mediated by reducing density-dependence on natural reefs.

Laurent joined SPC in September 2002.  His main job focuses on the comparative assessment of reef-fin-fisheries from the Pacific Community region. Ultimately, outcomes of Laurent’s work will be compared with those of other team members of the PROCFISH project in order to assess the current status of reef-fisheries (social as well as biological aspects, and covering invertebrate and fin-fisheries in a seamless manner) in the South Pacific.