Omega Protein files for reimbursement from BP

HOUSTON

The nation's largest producer of Omega-3 fish oil has filed a claim with BP for reimbursement of costs or lost profits from the oil spill on the Gulf Coast.

Omega Protein Corp. did not specify how much it was asking the British oil maker for. A message left with BP was not immediately returned Friday.

Omega Protein harvests menhaden to extract fish oil. It said in a news release late Thursday its total fish catch in the Gulf of Mexico was 68 percent of its fish catch plan for the year, based on data through July 9.

The company said its fishing has been affected by closures of fishing grounds due to the oil spill.

Omega has sent some ships elsewhere or increased fishing with certain vessels.

BP said on Friday its capped-off well appeared to be holding steady. Oil stopped spewing into the Gulf Coast on Thursday for the first time since an April 20 explosion on the BP-leased Deepwater Horizon oil rig killed 11 workers and unleashed the spill 5,000 feet beneath the water's surface.

Shares of Omega Protein, which is based in Houston, rose 6 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $5.03.