You Can Help Safeguard a Fish Species That Is Important to Oceanic Ecosystems
Omega Protein Corp and Omega Protein, Inc. might not be family names, however many of their products are. By mass gathering menhaden, Omega is putting the marine ecosystems in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico at danger, while also violating the Clean Water Act and other federal laws.
Without instant modification, Omegas actions have the possible to harm the food web and continue to drive down populations of striped bass and other predator types that rely on menhaden for food. Omega pleaded guilty to these violations, resulting in a three-year probation duration, a $5.5 million fine, and $2 million payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation particularly assigned to restoration projects in the Chesapeake Bay.
Omega settled many of these events out of court, however in 2014, a case did go to court; the judge ruled in Omegas favor relating to the death of a 24-year-old who was captured in the turning conveyor.
Atlantic menhaden. Image: Jared Zissu/Menhaden Defenders, used with approval.
Omega Protein Corp and Omega Protein, Inc. might not be family names, however a number of their items are. These two business, collectively referred to as “Omega,” make up among the largest reduction fishing organizations in North America. They record and process fish known as menhaden, then resell the “lowered fish” for use in pet agriculture, aquaculture and food feed, and human fish oil supplements. By mass gathering menhaden, Omega is putting the marine ecosystems in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico at threat, while also breaking the Clean Water Act and other federal laws.
Menhaden (typically understood as bunker or pogy) are thought about among the most important fish in the sea. They are a kind of forage fish, or filter feeders, reducing damaging algal blooms while also being an important food source for whales, striped bass, redfish, eagles, osprey and numerous other animals.
Companies like Omega catch and process about 6 billion menhaden per year. Without instant change, Omegas actions have the prospective to damage the food web and continue to drive down populations of striped bass and other predator species that rely on menhaden for food.
Stricter fishing regulations and tracking, specifically in the Chesapeake Bay, are necessary. In the meantime, consumers can conserve menhaden by avoiding Omega items and switching to menhaden options, therefore decreasing the marketplace need.
Menhaden populations in the Chesapeake Bay. Source: Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Omegas Environmental Violations
Throughout Omegas business history there have been many accounts of regulative breaches, ranging from going beyond the fishing limit and violating the Clean Water Act to falsifying information to receive federal loans.
Omega got federal government funding under the condition that they would remain in compliance with federal environmental regulations. Nevertheless, in 2013 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prosecuted Omega for 2 wastewater offenses in Virginia. The first offense happened between May 2008 and September 2010, when the company unlawfully discarded fish waste, or bail water, from its processing center into Virginias coastal waters. To make matters worse, the bail water included extra toxins and chemicals. In between April 2009 and September 2010, Omega proceeded to violate the Clean Water Act as soon as again; its fishing fleet was caught discharging wastewater directly into the sea. The wastewater was oily and polluted with waste from the ship. Omega pleaded guilty to these violations, resulting in a three-year probation duration, a $5.5 million fine, and $2 million payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation specifically designated to repair jobs in the Chesapeake Bay.
In 2017 it became obvious that Omega had not only breached the terms of the previous plea contract, however also discharged contaminants in the Gulf at its Louisiana site. Again, Omega pleaded guilty to dumping wastewater in 2014 and 2016.
In addition to the various Clean Water Act offenses, Omega falsified info in both quarterly and yearly reports, breaching the antifraud arrangement in the U.S. Securities Act and the reporting arrangement of the Exchange Act and Rules.
To gain and apply approval for federal loans, Omega signed an agreement mentioning that the company was in compliance with federal ecological policies, that they had not gotten any notices relating to prior infractions, that there were no pending examinations or matches versus them, and that they would notify the National Marine Fisheries Service of any events that might impact the conditions of the agreement. By December 2014, Omega had actually gotten approved for $21.1 million in government borrowings from five various loans. A variety of the reports that they filed in order to get these loans were falsified. They were also required to develop and preserve an ecological list, however did not execute either.
In addition to these legal compliance violations, Omega was just recently charged under the Endangered Species Act when its boats were captured speeding through the mid-Atlantic right whale seasonal management locations. The whales take a trip through these locations as they move and utilize them as calving premises. Right whale populations are decreasing rapidly; with just 100 women left, Omega Protein is more endangering the species by recklessly speeding through their protected habitat.
Aside from all of Omegas damaging actions versus the environment, there have actually been a handful of staff member health and wellness offenses. Sadly, a number of these offenses have resulted in worker deaths, varying from an employee getting captured in a “rotating screw conveyor” to the surge of a tank that consisted of methane and hydrogen sulfide. Omega Protein is likewise responsible for multiple injuries resulting from operational occurrences on their boats. These occasions consist of vessel accidents and a dock supervisor being “absorbed” to a commercial vacuum which is used to remove fish from the ship. In addition to these tragic occasions, in 2012 the United States Department of Labor mentioned 25 health and wellness infractions. Omega settled the majority of these occurrences out of court, but in 2014, a case did litigate; the judge ruled in Omegas favor relating to the death of a 24-year-old who was captured in the rotating conveyor.
Omegas corruption and absence of issue for both the environment and its staff members is disconcerting. It is crucial to boycott any products that can be tracked to Omega Protein through the worth chain.
Menhaden Alternatives.
In an effort to safeguard and restore menhaden populations, many companies are promoting for ecosystem-based management and improved fishing guidelines, however these can take a very long time to be authorized and after that carried out. While it is crucial to support stronger regulations and enhanced management, we can all make an instant modification by checking out labels and switching to sustainable options.
There is increasing need for farmed fish, leading to an increase in menhaden harvesting and processing to make fish pellets (or feed for these farmed fish). Salmon and shrimp farmers rely heavily on menhaden pellets. Customers who want to safeguard menhaden, marine communities and the oceanic food web should boycott farmed salmon and shrimp, opting for a more sustainable wild-caught option.
When grocery shopping, customers can also try to find grass-fed meat and poultry in order to be specific that these animals were not fed pellets derived from menhaden.
When talking about human supplements, it is important to keep in mind that there is scientific proof mentioning that it is not necessary to take fish oil supplements if you have a balanced, healthy diet. Regardless, some people delight in the benefits of taking fish oil in order to get omega-3s, DHA and EPA into their diet plan.
There is a lack of economical, fish-free pet food presently offered, however there are a few practical choices on the market that consist of the very same nutrients however are sourced from soy and peas. It is important to require that Purina and other staple pet food business be more accountable and ethical in sourcing their items. If we, as customers, do not hold these big corporations accountable, they will continue to diminish our natural resources in order to turn a profit.
As the environment crisis continues to intensify, the ocean will continue to undergo unprecedented tension, making it more essential than ever to lower our negative influence on these vulnerable and diverse ecosystems.
Celeste Vandeventer is a student in Columbia Universitys Sustainability Management masters program. She just recently focused on menhaden preservation as a part of her internship at the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.
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Celeste Vandeventer|November 19, 2021