Omega Protein Looks to Future, Honors Past With Christening of State-of-the-Art Fishing Vessels

REEDVILLE, VA--(Marketwired - April 21, 2017) - Omega Protein (NYSE: OME) is preparing to launch its 105^th consecutive fishing season in Reedville, Virginia, and the Company will take a major step on Saturday by christening its two newest fishing vessels, the Cockrells Creek and the Windmill Point. These new, updated vessels continue Omega Protein's efforts to advance its sustainable practices by modernizing its fishing fleet.

These efforts, and the Company's other sustainable operations, are documented in a short film, Omega Protein: Fishing for Life, which is being released in conjunction with the launch of the new vessels. The film uses footage from onboard Omega Protein vessels, as well as interviews with captains, spotter pilots, crewmembers and other Company employees, to show what it's like to catch menhaden for a living.

The ceremony will be held April 22 at the Omega Protein plant, located at 610 Menhaden Road in Reedville, Va. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m., followed by a vessel cruise at 11 a.m.

The Cockrells Creek and Windmill Point boast many improvements over the vessels they are replacing, the Reedville and the Tangier Island. They feature improved refrigeration, which will help ensure that Omega Protein's harvest is as fresh as possible when the vessels reach the dock. They also feature greater capacity, holding up to 2 million fish apiece compared to the 1.3 million held by the retiring vessels. They provide a safer, more seaworthy working platform for crewmembers, and upgraded living quarters.

"As we near the kick off of our 105^th year, these new vessels exemplify our continued investment in the future of Reedville," said Monty Deihl, Omega Protein's Vice President of Operations. "We also have the privilege of honoring the people who have helped build our community and our industry."

Omega Protein will pay tribute to its past at Saturday's ceremony, with two women with longstanding ties to Reedville's historic menhaden fishery serving as sponsors of the new vessels.

Ms. Dixie Deihl, sponsor of the Cockrells Creek, is a lifelong Northumberland County native who lives in Fleeton. Her husband of 45 years, Captain Henry Deihl, was a 3^rd generation menhaden captain who passed away in 2007. Ms. Deihl's support of the industry dates back over 55 years and continues today through her family, including two sons and three grandsons who work for Omega Protein.