Reel Rewards Program - Incentivized Sustainable Fishing

In April 2024, the Environmental Justice Journalism Initiative (EJJI) launched the Reel Rewards program, an innovative program that promotes sustainable fishing practices and combats invasive species in the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River.

The program is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the South Baltimore Gateway Partnership (SBGP) and will be executed in collaboration with the Interdisciplinary Consortium for Applied Research in the Environment (ICARE), Reimagine Middle Branch, and the Middle Branch Resiliency Initiative.

Reel Rewards offered local fishers an opportunity to take part in environmental conservation and research initiatives while receiving incentives for their work. We encourage those fishing within the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River to identify and catch invasive fish species. These invasive species include the Northern Snakehead, Blue Catfish, and Flathead Catfish. Check out this year’s program recap video from EJJI and stay tuned for news about updates for 2025!

Learn more on EJJI's website

Upon successfully catching any of the designated invasive species, participants are asked to collect the fish heads and deliver them to drop-off points on specified days. In exchange, fishers will receive $30 per invasive fish head submitted. This program provides data for invasive species management and supports local fishing communities through financial incentives.

Reel Rewards is a collaborative effort between government agencies, non-profit organizations, and local stakeholders. Our goal is to address environmental challenges, foster community engagement, and support local fishers.

Questions about this program? Contact:

Veronica Malabanan Lucchese, EJJI Environmental Science Program Manager, veronica@ejji.og

The Environmental Justice Journalism Initiative (EJJI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental justice and community empowerment. Through collaborative initiatives and innovative programs, EJJI connects communities - especially youth - with the journalists, policymakers, scientists, and researchers doing environmental justice work in their neighborhoods here in Baltimore.

South Baltimore Gateway Partnership (SBGP) was established in 2016 to help implement the South Baltimore Gateway Master Plan, a sweeping plan to improve neighborhoods near the Horseshoe Casino Baltimore, with funding provided by the Local Impact Grants generated by video lottery terminals. Under its Strategic Plan, SBGP works to improve the vitality of its communities by focusing on three crucial elements of the Master Plan: Community Development and Revitalization, Environmental Sustainability, and Health and Wellness. To achieve these, SBGP has established three interrelated program areas: Community Grants, Enhanced Services, and Transformational Projects. Reimagine Middle Branch and the Middle Branch Resiliency Initiative are Transformational Projects. To learn more visit: www.sbgpartnership.org

Reimagine Middle Branch (RMB) is a community-driven initiative is led by the City of Baltimore, South Baltimore Gateway Partnership, and Parks & People, working alongside a team of expert consultants, stakeholders, and Baltimoreans. RMB’s vision is to reconnect South Baltimore communities to 11+ miles of shoreline along the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River through projects, trails, and programs, such as Reel Rewards. These initiatives are guided by Equity Frameworks outlined in the Reimagine Middle Branch Plan, which you can learn about here: https://www.reimaginemb.com/plan

Middle Branch Resiliency Initiative (MBRI): During the development of the Reimagine Middle Branch Plan, communities called for Environmental Justice including better access to nature and more protection from flooding and storm damage. Therefore, the Plan calls for restoring the native wetlands that used to surround and protect the Middle Branch with the MBRI, a comprehensive, basin-wide implementation effort for shoreline restoration, working in collaboration with programs such as Reel Rewards. Learn more about the project here: https://www.reimaginemb.com/events-projects/middle-branch-resiliency-initiative