Missing the scent of production at the Omega Protein plant in Moss Point is like missing a sore tooth, but it happens. The eastern side of the Mississippi Gulf Coast is known for having a “rotten egg” stench at certain times of the year, and to0 many locals, they say, “it smells like money,” or “it is a sign that summer is on the way.”
Omega Protein is the longest operating industry within Moss Point city limits and has called the Escatawpa River shore property home since the 1950s. The menhaden harvesting and processing industry has existed since 1870 in the Atlantic Ocean before moving into the Gulf. Along with processing menhaden annually from the third Monday in April until November 1, it also runs its ship yard and fleet maintenance operations 12 months of the year.
But, before we go into the processing or the scent, let’s first understand the menhaden. Menhaden are a small, oily forage fish that are critical to the marine ecosystem and also used commercially for fish oil, fish meal and fertilizer. Locally, they are referred to as pogies and are part of the herring family. They are filter feeders that consume phytoplankton and zooplankton.
The Moss Point facility is one of three processing plants nationwide operated by Omega Protein, and its product is shipped around the world. Consumers may not know the process, but much of what is consumed by humans has depended on the work of this Moss Point operation. Parts of menhaden are used in Omega-3 Oil products, animal nutrition and marine protein.
Andy Schmitz, general manager at the Moss Point location, said he misses the smell during the off season and looks forward to its annual operations. He said the Moss Point facility receives the harvested fish and processes them into high quality fish meal and fish oil.
Omega Protein There are 4 total menhaden reduction plants in the United States. Omega Protein operates three facilities in the United States—one in Louisiana, Virginia and of course Mississippi. Ben Landry, vice president of public affairs, said the products produced by Omega Protein are exported around the world.
“The two primary products that use menhaden fish meal and oil feed are in the pet food market and salmon aquaculture feed,” Landry said.
Consumers purchase these in multi vitamins and food for “man’s best friend” that contains Omega-3 fatty acids. Its presence helps in pet foods reduces inflammation, promotes skin, coat, bone and joint health, supports healthy brain development and trainability, and helps with optimum growth and development. This product is also in aquaculture processes as well.
Menhaden are caught in the Gulf of America and the Atlantic Ocean using a purse seine. Once caught, the fish are loaded onto a vessel where they are run through a sorter to discard any bycatch. Once the boat is at capacity, the fish are offloaded on the Escatawpa River where they are cooked until their oils can be extracted before draining and utilizing the remainder parts of the fish for other products.
“We use a purse seine to harvest fish, which is different from what a shrimper will use, which is a trawl,” Landry said. “Menhaden are then delivered to the Omega Protein facility to be processed into fish meal and oil that will end up all over the world.
During the cooking process, a strong, unpleasant odor is emitted and can be present for many miles around the plant. But, this is something to which residents have become accustomed and have a fondness to the weekly sightings of the fleet of 165-foot vessels departing on Sunday afternoon and returning Friday evening.
“Our fleet in Moss Point harvest menhaden from both Mississippi and Louisiana state waters,” Landry said. “Occasionally they harvest beyond three miles from shore in federal waters.”
The captain and crew are excellent stewards of the waterways and provide enjoyment for children and adults alike with a blow of the horn or a little wave hopping.
Along with the weekly sightings of the vessels leaving the river or returning home, there are the daily sounds of an airplane overhead that works with the boat captains to indicate the coordinates of schools of fish spotted from above.
