Big Muddy Speaker Series

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.