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remain relatively the same over a long period of time. On the contrary, most species increase or decrease significantly, creating an underwater life and death drama that most people never see. In recent years, Rhode Island has seen a decline in winter flounder to the point where there is some question whether it can be sustained, Collie said. No single factor is responsible for the species’ decline; rather, the cause seems to be a combination of fishing and warmer water temperatures, which have altered the food web and increased predation by sand shrimp, as well as other fish, birds, and seals. Some of Collie’s research has helped to rebuild depleted species. One of his recent projects has involved assessing rebuilding plans for fisheries for the National Research Council. There are 85 such plans in the U.S. To help understand fish populations, Collie studies their ecosystems and engages in comparative ecosystem analysis. He was involved in the 15-year, U.S. Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics (GLOBEC) study of how climate change and variability will translate into changes in marine ecosystems and in fishery production. Closer to home, he helped to create Rhode Island’s new Ocean Special Area Management Plan (SAMP), which is a blueprint for developing Rhode Island’s coastal waters. One of the reasons for developing the Ocean SAMP is that potential offshore development, such as wind turbines, could harm the environment if not done properly. The years- long process, which involved several URI scientists, proved to be very beneficial for the university and the state. URI became a “key player by

design,” Collie said. The thread that ties all of Collie’s research together is his love for the natural world and the need to preserve it. “There’s a big conservation angle here,” he said. People take the environment – and its multifarious species – for granted, but concerted conservation efforts are needed if they are to survive. Collie’s big message to policy makers: “We have to invest in our marine resources in order to sustain them,” he said.

Jeremy Collie, Ph.D., Professor, Oceanography

URI Research: Impacting Rhode Island Economic Development 21