Jump to content

Omega Protein

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Tzjones (talk | contribs) at 19:53, 18 March 2015 (→‎Fishery Issues: Added information and citations regarding crew deaths to section on collision and sinking). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Omega Protein Corporation
Company typePublic
NYSE: OME
IndustryFish products
Founded1913
HeadquartersHouston, Texas
Revenue$244 million USD(2013)
Number of employees
1150
Websitewww.omegaproteininc.com

Omega Protein Corporation is an international nutritional product corporation headquartered in Houston, Texas. It is a leading integrated provider of specialty oils, essential fatty acids and specialty protein products. Omega Protein is North America's largest manufacturer of protein-rich specialty fish meal and organic fish solubles.

Omega Protein’s roots date back to 1913 founded in Reedville, Virginia. In the fall of 2014, the company released its inaugural Corporate Social Responsibility Report, formally articulating the company’s existing social and environmental efforts and future aspirations.[1] Throughout their 100 years, Omega Protein has delivered quality ingredients that improve the nutritional integrity of food, supplements and animal feed to allow consumers and their families to live healthier lives with better nutrition.

Origin

Menhaden fishing is one of America's oldest commercial industries, dating back to the 1800s. In the early years of American history, menhaden fishing and processing was a very common sight along the Atlantic coastline. In 1850, D.D. Wells & Son founded the first factory for catching and processing menhaden.[2] In 1878 John and Thomas Haynie began their first fish processing operation on their family’s property in Reedville, Virginia. The brothers would sell the processed menhaden fish oil, which was used for manufacturing and as a source of fuel. During the 1920s, the oil shifted markets due to the emergence of kerosene and petroleum as the dominant fuel sources. Through a series of mergers and name changes, the company that the Haynies founded in 1878 eventually became Omega Protein.

Expansion

  • 1903- John A. Haynie Company becomes Haynie, Snow and Company
  • 1913- Haynie, Snow and Company becomes Reedville Oil & Guano Company
  • 1966- Expansion into the Gulf o fMexico with the opening of processing facilities in LA & MS
  • 1968- Reedville Oil & Guano Company renames to Haynie Products, Inc.
  • 1970- Haynie Products, Inc. becomes Zapata Haynie Corporation after merger with Zapata Oil
  • 1994- Zapata Haynie Corporation renames to Zapata Protein
  • 1997- Zapata Protein goes public
  • 2002- Zapata Protein renames to Omega Protein[3]
  • 2010- Omega Protein acquires Cyvex Nutrition, Inc., a dietary supplement supplier[4]
  • 2011- Omega Protein acquires InCon Processing, L.L.C., a processor that uses molecular distillation technology[5]

Growth

New research and technological innovations have allowed menhaden processing operations to improve on their abilities to use omega-3 oils to benefit human and animal nutrition needs.

Omega Protein first began its expansion into the high-end animal and human nutrition markets with the completion of the Health and Science Center in Reedville, VA on October 21, 2004. This manufacturing facility was developed to create ultra-refined versions of menhaden oil for application in food and high-end animal feed. In 2007, Omega Protein furthers its presence in the human nutrition industry by launching the OmegaPure Technology and Innovation Center (OPTIC) to develop and research new ways to integrate omega-3 fatty acids into food formulations, develop antioxidant and stabilization systems, and provide technical assistance to the processing of fish oils. Omega Protein has recently enhanced its presence in the human and animal nutrition markets through a series of strategic acquisitions. Its main subsidiary is Nutegrity, a nutritional supplement company headquartered in Irvine, California. Nutegrity was formed in 2013 by merging Omega Protein’s previous acquisitions. These include Cyvex Nutrition, a provider of botanical and fish oil-based dietary ingredients located in Irvine, California; InCon Processing, a toll processing facility for omega-3 products located in Batavia, Illinois; and Wisconsin Specialty Protein, a manufacturer of whey protein located in Reedsburg, Wisconsin with additional operations in Madison, Wisconsin. Nutegrity provides nutritional products derived from dairy, plant, and marine-based sources.

In 2014, Omega Protein acquired Bioriginal, a Saskatchewan based supplier of omega-3 oils with operations in Den Bommel, Netherlands, to further expand its presence in the nutrition market. Like Nutegrity, Bioriginal derives its omega-3 oils from both plant-based and marine sources.[6]

Company operations

Headquarters- Houston, TX
Offices- Irvine, CA; Madison, WI; Saskatoon, Canada; Den Bommel the Netherlands
Processing- Abbeville, LA; Moss Point, MS; Reedville, VA; Batavia, IL; Reedsburg, WI
Research- Omega Protein Health & Science Center in Reedville, VA and OmegaPure Technology and Innovation Center (OPTIC) in Houston, TX

Omega Protein operates in several locations across the country. The company’s fisheries are crucial to coastal economies on both on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. On the Atlantic Coast, Omega Protein maintains a facility in Reedville, Virginia, and on the Gulf Coast, the company operates in Abbeville, Louisiana and Moss Point, Mississippi.

Fishing Operations

Purse Seine Technique

  1. Spotter Planes fly along the coast to identify schools of menhaden, and relay that information to fishing vessels on the water.
  2. Fishing vessels arrive at the school of fish spotted by the plane. Smaller purse boats are deployed to collect the catch.
  3. The two purse boats begin encircling the school of fish with a purse seine net.
  4. The fish are then transferred from the net to refrigerated fish holds on the main vessel.
  5. The vessels return to the dock where the caught fish are unloaded for processing.
  6. Each step of preparation and production involves a system of quality check points for safety and quality assurance.

Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMSs) have been installed on 43 vessels in 4 different locations to monitor, survey and transmit data from vessels to shore. All marine products are 100% traceable from their source to consumer shelves.

All captains operating Omega Protein vessels are required to complete daily fishing reports for each catch. The report identifies the estimated number of fish caught, location of catch, weather at time of catch, as well as other details that are important for the fishery. The reports are also shared with government agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Atlantic fishery

Atlantic menhaden are harvested within the Chesapeake Bay and in the Mid-Atlantic waters. The menhaden reduction fishery is the largest commercial fishery on the East Coast. Menhaden are managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), which is an interstate compact formed by an agreement with the 15 Atlantic Coast states.[7]

Gulf fishery

Gulf menhaden are primarily harvested along the coast of Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The menhaden are managed by the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission (GSMFC), which is a compact between the five Gulf Coast states.[8] Some fisheries professionals have called the Gulf of Mexico menhaden fishery a “near-perfect” fishery.[9]

Specialty Oils and Essential Fatty Acid Operations

Omega Protein’s omega-3 menhaden ingredients are vertically integrated through the company’s existing menhaden fishing operations and portfolio of facilities. Once the menhaden are landed and processed at one of the three processing facilities located in Abbeville, LA; Moss Point, MS; and Reedville, VA, the omega-3 oils are sent to the company’s Health and Science Center in Reedville, VA for initial purification. Once processed at the Health and Science Center, the oil is transported to the company’s Batavia, IL facility where it is molecularly distilled and concentrated to customer specifications.

All omega-3 products are actively monitored for product quality from the source to the final product. Quality control throughout the entire supply chain allows the company to ensure product certifications, ranging from simply natural to organic certification.

The company’s products include fish oil (tuna, menhaden, anchovy, cod liver), krill oil, hemp seed, flaxseed, evening primrose oil, borage seed oil, black currant seed oil. These products can come in capsules, chewable softgels, emulsions, liquid oils, nutritional seeds, and softgels.

Dairy Protein Operations

Omega Protein’s dairy protein operations produce whey protein, milk protein, and specialty dairy nutritional supplements. The company’s unique manufacturing plant can process in small batches, allowing the company to produce high quality cow, rBGH-free cow, and goat whey protein products. Technology used includes extensive use of heat exchange to maintain cool temperatures throughout the ultrafiltration process and unique concentration and drying processes to ensure the products retain their nutritive value and non-denatured whey protein status.

Omega Protein was the first manufacturing plant in the US to offer a consistent supply of cow and goat proteins.[10]

The company’s products include organic, rBGH Free, goat whey protein as well as a line of blended whey protein products for energy, satiety, health and digestion.

Nutraceutical Operations

Omega Protein supplies a wide range of clinically researched and branded nutraceutical ingredients containing flavonoids, antioxidants, and botanical proteins. Their products address a broad range of applications including antioxidant health, baked goods and beverage fortification, dietary supplements, infant nutrition, sports nutrition, and weight management . The company’s products include PomActiv, Solathin, Thrivexan, CocoaNol, Chirositol, BioViin, AppleZin, and AlfaPro.

Products

Environmental Record

Corporate Social Responsibility

In 2014, Omega Protein debuted their first Corporate Social Responsibility Report.[11] The report highlights the company’s commitment to “a healthier world,” sustainability, traceability, quality, and environmental responsibility. The report formally compiled Omega Protein’s existing service and goals for future endeavors.

The company regularly partners with food banks and other nutrition-related service causes. Examples of these community service events include gleaning crops to supply fresh produce to food pantries in Virginia and volunteering for the Houston Food Bank for World Food Day.[12]

Awards

In 2008, Omega Protein received certification from Friend of the Sea, an international non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to the conservation of marine resources.[13] The certification provided by the organization is conducted through a multi-step evaluation process, including onsite monitoring, to approve sustainability in fisheries and aquaculture.[14] In 2009, Omega Protein received the Friend of the Sea Award for sustainability. The award is given to those whose target stocks are not overexploited and whose fishing methods do not impact the seabed. The company's fishing methods must also not discard more than 8% in weight of their catch.[15]

Omega Protein’s operations in both the Gulf and along the Atlantic have been regularly recertified since their first certification, with the Gulf of Mexico fishery most recently being recertified in the fall of 2014.[16]

Wisconsin Specialty Protein’s Reedsburg, WI facility received the Gold Medal Award in the Green Building category as an Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin 2009 Project of Distinction.[17] Wisconsin Specialty Protein is a subsidiary of Omega Protein.

Wisconsin Specialty Protein also received the Annual Innovation Zone Award from the Dairy Business Innovation Center for its energy-efficient building and the newly launched Tera’s Whey protein product line.[18]

Omega Protein’s Abbeville, LA facility received the Louisiana Economic Development (LED) 2014 Lantern Award for its record of community service and “excellence in manufacturing.” Lantern Awards are given yearly to one company in each of the state’s eight regions for their demonstrated commitment to the communities in which they operate.[19]

Fishery Issues

2010 BP Oil Spill

The oil slick resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill had an adverse effect on Omega Protein’s ability to operate in the fishing grounds east of the Mississippi River Delta, near its Moss Point, Mississippi facility. Regulators closed areas there to commercial fishing [20] . The company developed additional contingency response plans to move its vessels from Morgan City, Louisiana farther west to its Abbeville and Cameron facilities should regulators close a greater portion of the fishing grounds. Following the spill, Omega Protein filed a claim with the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (“GCCF”) to be reimbursed for costs and lost profits resulting from the incident [21] . The GCCF administers funds paid by BP in connection with reimbursements for claims caused by the Deepwater Horizon disaster.


2011 Collision and Sinking Omega Protein reported that late in the evening on May 18, 2011, an Omega Protein vessel, the ‘’F/V Sandy Point’’, was involved in a collision with a commercial cargo vessel, the ‘’Eurus London’’, in Mississippi waters approximately eight miles south of Gulfport, Mississippi near Ship Island. As a result of the collision, the ‘’F/V Sandy Point’’ took on water and sank. At the time of the collision, 16 crew members were aboard Omega Protein’s vessel. Authorities accounted for 13 of Omega Protein’s crew members. A search and rescue effort was immediately deployed for the remaining 3 crew members. Joseph von Rosenberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at the time of the incident, stated “We are assisting the United States Coast Guard and the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources in the search for our remaining crew members. Our main concern at this time is for our missing 3 crew members and their families.” [22] The three missing crew members’ bodies were found May 20th and 21st. The cause for the collision remains unknown pending a lengthy investigation. [23]

References

  1. ^ Omega Protein, “Omega Protein Debuts First-Ever Corporate Social Responsibility Report,” September 14, 2014
  2. ^ "The Menhaden Fishery Off Long Island". The New York Times. February 12, 1874. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  3. ^ "The History". Retrieved September 29, 2011.
  4. ^ [1], "Cyvex acquisition", September 29, 2011
  5. ^ [2], "InCon acquisition", September 29, 2011
  6. ^ Omega Protein, “Our History”
  7. ^ ASMFC, “Atlantic Menhaden”
  8. ^ GSMFC, “Menhaden”
  9. ^ Louisiana Sportsman, “Everybody eats pogies”
  10. ^ Nutegrity, “Protein Manufacturing”
  11. ^ Omega Protein, “Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2014”
  12. ^ Natural Products Insider, “Omega Protein Joins Houston Food Bank to Fight Hunger”
  13. ^ Friend of the Sea, “Omega Protein’s Purse Seine Menhaden fleet”
  14. ^ Friend of the Sea, “Omega Protein qualifies for Friend of the Sea Certification”
  15. ^ Friend of the Sea, “Friend of the Sea sustainable fishery criteria”
  16. ^ Friend of the Sea, “Omega Protein awarded Friend of the Sea certification for Sustainable Gulf Menhaden” October 13, 2014
  17. ^ Wisconsin Business Development, “Wisconsin Specialty Protein, LLC”
  18. ^ Isthmus, “Tera Johnson’s big idea: Tera’s Whey”
  19. ^ Louisiana Economic Development, “Eight Louisiana Manufacturers Honored in 2014 Lantern Awards”
  20. ^ The Huffington Post, “Fishing Restrictions Hurt Louisiana’s Meal and Oil Processors”
  21. ^ [www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2010/07/12/daily43.html Houston Business Journal, “Omega Protein files claim against BP for lost profits”]
  22. ^ Gulf Live, “Collision with ship resulted in sinking of Omega Protein's 163-foot Sandy Point”
  23. ^ Professional Mariner, “Three from menhaden boat killed in collision with containership”

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Omega_Protein&oldid=651971630"