Upcoming in Rocheport, Mo.
“If you can’t beat ’em – eat ’em!” – Silver Carp Solutions
presentation by Mark Morgan, PhD, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Natural Resources
NOTE – This month’s presentation is the THIRD Tuesday of the month.
Associate Professor Mark Morgan is part of a movement to control populations of invasive Asian carp by turning them into a marketable commodity. If you can’t beat them, eat them!

Presentation by Mark Morgan, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Missouri School of Natural Resources
St. Patrick’s Day – Tuesday, March 17, 2015 (Note – this month’s presentation is the THIRD Tuesday)
- 7 p.m. presentation
- lower floor of the Les Bourgeois Vineyards Bistro in Rocheport, MO
- Map and Directions
If you intend on coming early to purchase an amazing dinner at Les Bourgeois Bistro before the presentation, PLEASE call to make a reservation at: 573-698-2300 and…tell them you are with the Big Muddy Speaker Series!
Presentation is FREE and open to the public!
Few people have spent much time on the Missouri River in recent years without a close encounter with the infamous flying carp. From sliming your boat to whacking your head, silver carp are an “in your face” kind of fish.
The spread of two invasive species of carp is transforming the ecology of rivers throughout the Mississippi River Watershed, and the Missouri River is no exception. Some estimates claim that silver and bighead carp make up 80% of the total biomass in these rivers.

The silver carp, the species of invasive carp known for leaping in the air when startled, has become a major problem in the Mississippi River watershed. Photo courtesy of Duane Chapman, USGS.
Associate Professor Mark Morgan is part of a movement to control populations of these invaders by turning them into a marketable commodity. If you can’t beat them, eat them! These two species of carp are prized throughout the world but considered a “trash fish” in the U.S. So part of the trick to getting them on the market is finding products that Americans will consume.
His current project is focused on connecting local restaurants with regional carp processing plants and promoting recreational fishing for Asian carp.
Mark Morgan, PhD, is an associate professor in the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Natural Resources researching the social aspects of natural resource management through education and outreach. He recently led a project to collect “fish stories” from across the Ozark region, resulting in the publishing of the book “Hook, Line & Sinker – A Collection of Fish Tales from Missouri Anglers”.
Directions
- 14020 W. Hwy BB, Rocheport, MO
- Take I-70 to the Rocheport, MO, exit (Exit #115). It’s the first exit east of the Missouri River.
- Head north toward Rocheport.
- After about a mile, turn left at the sign for Les Bourgeois Bistro. Follow the signs to the Bistro. You will probably need to park in the lot above the Bistro and walk the trail down.
- The presentations are held in upstairs in the restaurant. The restaurant is no longer open on Tuesdays but the bar is! You are welcome to bring your own food or snacks.
Resources & Links
Dig in for more info on this topic:
Articles
- “Invasive Carp May Soon Be On the Menu at MU Dining Halls” – by Natalie Helms, Columbia Missourian, Feb. 11, 2015
- “Eat More Carp” – article on Morgan’s project by Randy Mertens, CAFNR News, Dec. 8, 2014
- “Invasive Carp Clobber Catfish in Taste Test” – Scientific American, Tim Wall.
- “Chinese Market could help rid rivers of invasive Asian carp” – Harvest Public Media, April 14, 2014
- “Asian Carp popular at Columbia supermarket” – Columbia Missourian, Oct. 4, 2014
- Columbia Tribune article “Bowfishermen are drawn to the river” by Nic Halverson, June 23, 2012
- Public Radio show on Asian Carp – featuring Duane Chapman (3-30-11)»
Video
- “Silver Carp Solutions” – a series of video shorts by Mark Olsen, Pragmatic Wolf Productions, about cooking, preparing, marketing and catching silver and bighead carp. Includes the semi-viral “Filleting Silver Carp Boneless”
- “Flying Fish, Great Dish” – a you-tube video by Duane Chapman on preparing silver carp. Part 1 • Part 2 • Part 3
- The infamous “Peoria Carp Hunters”. Also check out their YouTube channel.
Research
- USGS Invasive Carp Research Program (with links to videos and articles about asian carp)
- asiancarp.org – an interagency wealth of resources
- Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee
More by Mark Morgan
- Purchase “Hook, Line & Sinker – A Collection of Fish Tales from Missouri Anglers”
- “Big Fish – Paddlefish Snagging is Popular at Lake of the Ozarks”
- “Fish Story – CAFNR Class Gathers Angler Tales” – CAFNR News, Feb. 20, 2013
- Interview with Mark Morgan in Driftwood Outdoors
The Big Muddy Speaker Series in Rocheport
is hosted by these wonderful partners.
- Missouri River Relief
- Friends of Big Muddy
- Columbia Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office (USFWS)
- Les Bourgeois Vineyards
- Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge
Click here for a list of upcoming presentations»
Special thanks to Les Bourgeois Vineyards for giving us the opportunity to use their beautiful space overlooking the Missouri River. All speakers are presenting for free! Thank you all for sharing your knowledge with us!
The Big Muddy Speaker Series also takes place monthly in Kansas City and St. Charles.
The Big Muddy Speaker Series is partially funded by the Columbia Ecological Services Field Office (USFWS) and the Mo. Dept. of Conservation.