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Bad Fish to Good Food

Boaters on Missouri rivers have been ducking these "flying" Asian carp to avoid serious injury from the huge fish as they launch themselves into the air.

Flying carp may jump onto zoo menus. (WMV)

Boaters on Missouri rivers have been ducking these "flying" Asian carp to avoid serious injury from the huge fish as they launch themselves into the air.

Not only are they causing injuries, they are also eating the food supply Missouri's native fish rely on for survival.

MU's researchers have applied creative thinking to this problem, and may have come up with a possible solution to this pest -- food for zoo animals.

There isn't much demand for the fish, so MU is teaming up with the St. Louis Zoo to determine if animals there would benefit from "carp cakes."

Nutritional analyses are currently being completed, and penguins, pelicans and sea lions will soon be dining on flying carp.

Other uses could be to provide fish meal for the booming aquaculture industry in Missouri.