BSc in Biology by the University of La Laguna and PhD by the University of Murcia (UMU), where he also graduated in Fine Arts. He is currently Professor of Ecology in the Department of Ecology and Hydrology at the UMU. At the same time he is president of the Academy of Sciences of the Region of Murcia and corresponding academic of the Canary Academy of Sciences. His main research topics are the ecology of coastal lagoons and the performance of marine protected areas, as well as biological indicators and the ecology of echinoderms and benthic fish.

He has collaborated in 51 national and international projects, has 237 articles in scientific journals, has directed 18 doctoral theses and 23 master's theses, and has given 266 lectures and 170 seminars worldwide. He is also a scientific advisor in environmental management and research projects with European, Spanish and regional administrations. During the last few years his activity has been particularly focused on the diagnosis of the state and the proposal of management measures for the recovery of the Mar Menor.