/EINPresswire.com/ -- 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.

Ms. Gayle Dameron, sponsor of the Windmill Point, is a Virginia native who married into the menhaden family. Her husband of 44 years, Captain Dale Dameron, was a 3^rd generation menhaden captain who passed away in 2016. Ms. Dameron spent time working at Northumberland County schools, and volunteering for school functions and at the Reedville Fishermen's Museum. The Damerons' legacy in the menhaden industry continues today through their son, Captain Michael Dale Dameron.

The ceremony will also honor the legacy of the retiring Reedville and Tangier Island, two World War II-era vessels, which will be cleaned, stripped of machinery, and sunk to become artificial reefs. These vessels served their country in wartime, provided jobs and income for countless people, and will continue to serve as fishery habitats and diving destinations. A third vessel, the John S. Dempster Jr., is also being retired, and will be kept as a ready reserve spare vessel.

The Reedville was constructed in 1944 as a freight and supply boat for the U.S. Army during World War II. It was later assigned to the U.S. Navy and renamed the Range Recoverer, carrying technicians and equipment to track long-range missiles. It was retired from military duty in 1975 and converted to a menhaden fishing boat based in Reedville, where it was originally captained by Mr. Harold Deihl. The Tangier Island, christened in 1973, was also originally captained by a member of the Deihl family, Mr. Irvin L. Deihl, Jr.

About Omega Protein

Omega Protein Corporation (NYSE: OME) is a century old nutritional product company that develops, produces and delivers healthy products throughout the world to improve the nutritional integrity of foods, dietary supplements and animal feeds. Omega Protein's mission is to help people lead healthier lives with better nutrition through sustainably sourced ingredients such as highly-refined specialty oils, specialty proteins products and nutraceuticals.

The Company operates seven manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Canada and Europe. The Company also uses over 30 vessels to harvest menhaden, a fish abundantly found off of the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Its website is www.omegaprotein.com.

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/4/21/11G136572/Images/CC-c5deb724dcacae03a9616b51dd489143.jpeg
Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/4/21/11G136572/Images/WP-5b0576599a00adbca1f2bbe97a6fb12b.jpeg