Sam Cheplick Email & Phone Number

United States

Newport, Oregon, United States

• Natural Resource Policy Fellow working with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's Marine Reserves Program and Oregon Sea Grant. I am responsible for supporting socio-economic research on Oregon's Marine Reserves.
• Methods include compiling and analyzing community and regional economic development metrics that can be used to assess social and economic vulnerability of coastal and marine ecosystems.
• Data collection and management of fisheries-dependent datasets across commercially important species in addition to highly migratory populations using PacFIN trip ticket and observer data.
• Updating and standardizing socio-economic monitoring protocols using a suite of empirical and secondary data sources that can be utilized by researchers, managers and policymakers in OR.
• Disseminating socio-economic related topics within and beyond the 5 marine reserves in Oregon territorial waters to partners and communities engaging with these coastal and marine habitats.

Seattle, Washington, United States

• Coordinated a National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) grant on the socio-economic and ecological impacts of single and multi-species Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) events on shellfish mariculture in the Puget.
• Methods included conducting an economic impact assessment of shellfish production in WA from 2019-2022 through IMPLAN
• Design and distribution of survey instruments to the WA Department of Health in conjunction with tribal nations across Puget Sound to collect socioeconomic data on impacts to HABs to shellfishing.
• Lead the econometric analysis of panel data collected from survey respondents to identify spatial and temporal trends in mitigating prolonged commercial shellfish closures, and illustrate to globally the benefits of.
• Supported QA/QC and importation of phytoplankton monitoring data from SoundToxins partners
• Assisted NOAA economists in analysis of recreational shellfish closures due to HABs, leading to a proposed publication in 2023

Georgetown, South Carolina, United States

• USDA/NIFA graduate fellow developing an aquaculture industry outlook for the state of South Carolina.
• Research included developing regional implementation plans with shellfish mariculture operators involving ecological and socioeconomic research of production techniques
• In collaboration with SC Sea Grant, conducted a benefit-cost analysis using an input/output model (IMPLAN)
• Conducted consumer perception surveys documenting seafood preferences and perceptions of the aquaculture industry in SC
• Assessed the application of the Marine Stewardship (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship (ASC) Council ecolabels for SC seafood products produced in South Carolina
• Studied the review process for National Marine Fisheries Service Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOA's) in the Southeastern U.S.

Bodega Marine Labratory

• Studied physiological stressors affecting population dynamics of motile invertebrates (Abalone. Urchins, Sea Stars) in response to the 2014-2016 warm water "blob" in the California Current
• Provided spatial analysis for the Kelp Ecosystem and Landscape Partnership for Research on Resilience (KELPRR) database
• Investigated the effects of variation in diet of naturally occurring fatty acids Docosahexaenoic (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acid in response to heat and cold shocks
• Assisted in the White Abalone Haliotis sorenseni restoration program providing husbandry duties for captive breeding environment
• Analyzed Red Abalone presence/absence surveys conducted annually along the CA north coast and assessed vital rates of reproduction through gonadosomatic Index from samples

Sacramento, California Area

• Staff within the Coded Wire Tag (CWT) lab located in Sacramento, CA. Assisted in maintaining the Regional Mark Information System in the Central Valley.
• Served as a vessel captain within Central Valley Angler Survey team collecting creel data and biological tissue samples. Trailered and operated 18-28 ft. research vessels on behalf of the Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Prepared and analyzed otoliths and tissues of Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and Steelhead Trout (O. mykiss) for life history data.

Praslin, Seychelles

• Served on behalf of the Global Environment Facilities (GEF), USAID and the UNDP Small Grant Program on coral and fisheries ecology in the Cousin Island Special Reserve
• Implemented monitoring methods on coastal fish populations and surrounding coral reef habitats through SCUBA surveys
• Maintenance of in-situ coral propagation nurseries.
• Data analysis of adult and juvenile coral cover transect surveys.
• Hawksbill Sea Turtle nest monitoring within the Cousin Island Special Reserve.
• Seabird (Fairy Tern, Tropicbird, and Shearwater) nest monitoring and banding under the auspices of BirdLife International protocols.

Dana Point, California

• Provided oceanographic education programs for students in the greater Los Angeles area inconjunction with Ocean Institutes outreach program to public schools.
• Naturalist aboard R/V Sea Explorer providing educational and research discussions onCetacean and Pinniped behavior.

Huntington Beach, CA

• Responsibilities included maintenance and repair of 1st & 2nd stages, BCDs and divecomputers.
• Led over 100 dives around Catalina Island during employment and assisted with over 75 open water and advanced open water certifications.

Big Pine Key, FL

• Served as Marine Science Educator, designing educational opportunities for primary, secondary and college students in nearshore ecosystems including seagrass, mangrove and coral reef habitats.
• Served as captain aboard 25 ft. vessels to access the Hawks Channel reef tract to study coral reef ecology and sustainability in accordance with Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary Act (NOAA&FWC).
• Boat operation during employment resulted in 250 logged days on the water aboard Class 1 vessels.

Rehoboth Beach, DE

• United States Lifesaving Association certified lifeguard with additional certificationsthrough American Red Cross in waterfront lifeguarding, CPR, AED and O2 administration.

Master'S Degree, Environmental Economics

Activities and Societies: USDA/NIFA fellowship Special Research Grants Program Aquaculture Research. >$150,000 in funding for 2 years of.

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Environmental Science

Activities and Societies: NCAA varsity athlete (lacrosse) 2012-2016 Phi Alpha Theta Historical Honor Society