Omega Protein welcomed Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe’s to the Company’s Reedville fishing facility at the end of June, where he signed a proclamation officially setting the Commonwealth’s menhaden harvest level at 158,700 metric tons, a 10 percent increase over last year’s levels.

The Governor praised Omega Protein’s sustainable operations and the Company’s economic input to the state’s rural Northern Neck region, noting that that the results of the proclamation alone will likely create dozens of new jobs.

“The menhaden fishing industry is so important to the Commonwealth. We’re preserving and doing what we need to do to preserve and create jobs, but at the same time we’re doing our part to protect the Bay,” said Governor McAuliffe.

The harvest increase was announced following the latest Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission menhaden stock assessment, released in January, which found the fishery to be operating sustainably.

Reedville, Virginia and the Northern Neck area have for many years been the center of the Atlantic menhaden fishery and Omega Protein has been one of the region’s largest employers for over a century.

“Today the company is one of the world’s leading, most vertically integrated and trusted suppliers of human nutrients and animal nutrition,” said Omega Protein Vice President of Fishing Operations Monty Deihl, at the Governor’s signing.