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Omega Protein is committed to protecting the environment and menhaden fishery that provide us with our livelihood.
Our fishing efforts are monitored in the Atlantic and Gulf coasts by regional, state and federal management agencies that closely oversee and regulate our fishing efforts, as well as the overall sustainability of the menhaden population. These government agencies have the ability to establish quotas, close environmentally sensitive fishing areas and limit the fishing season. According to these agencies, the menhaden fishery continues to be healthy, and present harvest levels remain far below the level that scientists believe could deplete the resource.
Quite simply, the menhaden fishery is not over-fished. Our success was founded on these principles, and we continue to support responsible fishing and the fishing culture. Omega Protein will do everything within its ability to ensure a healthy resource.
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Learn more about our efforts in sustainability in this short video.
Independent regulators support Omega Protein’s efforts:
- The most recent government stock assessments for Gulf menhaden in 2006 concluded that the fishery is not over-fished, nor is over-fishing occurring. The 2010 Atlantic stock assessment also showed the stock is not over-fished. For the most recent government stock assessments for Atlantic menhaden, click here.
- Menhaden are able to reproduce in large numbers. According to the ASMFC 2006 Assessment Report "fecundities range from 38,000 eggs for a small female to 362,000 eggs for a large female…". This means that a relatively small number of females can replace the population in a very short period of time.
- Stock Assessments conducted by the National Marine Fisheries Service indicate that the typical menhaden catch is less than 10 percent of the Gulf and 20% of the Atlantic biomass, including all age groups in the population.
- Regional management bodies include the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission.
- Omega Protein is certified sustainable by Friend of the Sea, an organization dedicated to the preservation of marine resources.
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