Omega Protein (OME) 8-K Omega Protein Reports 17 Cents Per Share Third Quarter Profit

EXHIBIT 99.1

Omega Protein Reports 17 Cents Per Share Third Quarter Profit

HOUSTON, November 10, 2008 – Omega Protein Corporation (NYSE symbol: OME), the nation’s leading producer of Omega-3 fish oil and specialty fish meal products, today reported net income of $3.1 million (17 cents a share) for the third quarter of 2008, compared to net income of $7.2 million (42 cents a share) for the third quarter of the previous year.

Revenues for the third quarter ended September 30, 2008 were $54.5 million compared with revenues of $44.6 million for the comparable quarter in 2007. Omega Protein recorded operating income of $5.3 million for the 2008 third quarter, versus operating income of $12.3 million for the third quarter of 2007.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company had revenues of $137.7 million, compared with $112.8 million in revenues for the first nine months of 2007. Omega Protein recorded operating income of $21.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, versus operating income of $18.6 million for the comparable period a year earlier. The Company had net income of $11.7 million ($0.65 per share) for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, compared with net income of $7.4 million ($0.44 per share) for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.

As previously reported, during the quarter ended September 30, 2008, the Company suffered wind and flood damages to two of its facilities as a result of Hurricane Ike. The Company’s Abbeville, Louisiana facility was restored to full capacity within a few weeks. The Company’s Cameron, Louisiana facility is continuing its repairs and is expected to be fully functional for the beginning of the 2009 fishing season. The Company anticipates that its insurance policies will cover substantially all material property damage losses. The Company’s third quarter results reflect decreased margins primarily due to significantly higher per unit production costs due to the lost fishing days caused by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, combined with increased energy, labor and repair costs experienced during the 2008 fishing season. In addition, prior year third quarter results were favorably impacted by the settlement of the lawsuit with the Company’s insurance carriers pertaining to damages sustained from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.

The Company’s 2008 nine month results, in comparison to the same nine months in 2007, after excluding the effects of hurricane losses, insurance recoveries and debt refinancing costs, experienced growth in revenues (22%), gross profit (34%) and net income (96%). The 2008 nine month results reflect increased pricing, particularly for fish oil, similar to other commodity markets during the first half of 2008. Commodity prices began to decrease in mid year and market uncertainty is high at this time. The global fish meal and fish oil markets tend to follow general commodity trends, albeit with less volatility. The Company believes it is well equipped to handle these changing markets due to its favorable financial position which includes a low debt to equity ratio and liquidity provided by internally generated cash, its bank credit facility and federal finance program loans.

About Omega Protein

Omega Protein Corporation is the nation’s largest manufacturer of heart-healthy fish oils containing Omega-3 fatty acids for human consumption, as well as specialty fish meals and fish oil used as value-added ingredients in aquaculture, swine and other livestock feeds. Omega Protein makes its products from menhaden, an Omega-3 rich fish that is abundantly available along the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Coasts.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The actual results of future events described in any of these forward-looking statements could differ materially from those stated in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to be materially different from those forward-looking statements include, among others: (1) the Company’s estimates of damages or repair times being incorrect; (2) the Company’s ability to meet its raw material requirements through its annual menhaden harvest, which is subject to fluctuations due to natural conditions over which the Company has no control such as varying fish population, fish oil yields, adverse weather conditions and disease; (3) the impact of worldwide supply and demand relationships on prices for the Company’s products; (4) Omega Protein’s expectations regarding demand for OmegaPure^® being incorrect; and (5) fluctuations in the Company’s quarterly operating results due to the seasonality of the Company’s business and its deferral of inventory sales based on worldwide prices for competing products. These and other factors are described in further detail in Omega’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its reports on Form 10-K, Form10-Q and Form 8-K. The Company also posts its latest internally generated price list for various products on its Company website,www.omegaproteininc.com. Pricing and product availability information disclosed in the price list are subject to change or discontinuance without prior notice, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update such information.

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

Statement of Operations

(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2008			2007			2008			2007
	(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Revenues	$	54,507		$	44,590		$	137,774		$	112,813
Cost of sales		43,923			33,640			102,976			86,805
Gross profit		10,584			10,950			34,768			26,008
Selling, general and administrative expense		4,211			3,477			11,874			11,656
Research and development expense		630			278			1,280			665
(Insurance recoveries and other proceeds) losses resulting from natural disasters and other, net		423			(5,117	)		608			(4,933	)
Operating income		5,320			12,312			21,006			18,620
Interest income (expense), net		(978	)		(1,204	)		(2,876	)		(4,010	)
Loss resulting from debt refinancing		—			—			—			(3,024	)
Other income (expense), net		107			(75	)		(17	)		(246	)
Income before income taxes		4,449			11,033			18,113			11,340
Provision for income taxes		1,335			3,880			6,377			3,984
Net income	$	3,114		$	7,153		$	11,736		$	7,356
Basic earnings per share	$	0.17		$	0.42		$	0.65		$	0.44
Weighted average common shares outstanding		18,624			16,971			18,160			16,635
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.16		$	0.41		$	0.63		$	0.42
Weighted average common shares and potential common share equivalents outstanding		18,875			17,591			18,541			17,325

OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET

(Unaudited)

	September 30, 2008		December 31, 2007
	(in thousands)
ASSETS
Current assets	$	140,266	$	107,651
Property and equipment, net		102,554		96,659
Deferred tax assets, net		—		175
Other assets		3,655		3,344
Total assets	$	246,475	$	207,829
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities	$	43,945	$	24,190
Long-term debt, less current maturities		53,195		58,976
Capital lease obligation, net of current portion		1,717		—
Pension liabilities, net and other		4,202		5,749
Interest rate swap liability, net of current portion		189		459
Stockholders’ equity		143,227		118,455
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	246,475	$	207,829
Book value per share outstanding	$	7.66	$	6.79

CONTACT:

Investor Relations, (713) 623-0060 ORhq@omegahouston.com

Web site:www.buyomegaprotein.com

# # #