Should angling clubs refund their members?

TAKE a look at some of the photos in the magazine over the past two weeks and you’ll see that anglers are, as always, finding ingenious ways to bring some much-needed humour to the worrying situation currently gripping the country. 

Funny videos and entertaining indoor fishing challenges have brought smiles to all our faces, but one topic where opinion has been more divided is the issue of refunds of syndicate and club membership fees for the period where fisheries are closed. 

Some anglers are seeking compensation for missed fishing time on expensive tickets, despite the fact that angling clubs still have to pay rent on their waters, and many rely on income from memberships just to stay afloat.  

Oxford’s Linear Fisheries is one of Britain’s most popular venues, and staff recently announced plans to freeze direct debit payments for syndicate members from April 1 until the fishery reopens.

“For us, it’s the moral thing to do,” says head bailiff Ian Roper.

“People can’t go fishing, so we’re not going to charge them for it.”

Despite the financial implications of the move, Ian says that the welfare of their regular anglers is the main priority.

“We’re a business, and we know we’re going to take a big financial hit by taking this decision, but we’re trying to do what is best for our members. We also closed our doors a few days before the official Government announcement. Again, this was because we felt that it was the right decision.”

Further south, Wimborne and District AC (WDAC) are compensating their members’ missed time in a different way.

“We’ve extended memberships by the period of the lockdown, thus not penalising members for a situation outside their control,” a club spokesperson tells us.

“It seemed to be the moral option, as many people will be suffering from reduced earnings and increasing financial pressure. It’s also a positive step to help our members, and our way of reciprocating their enthusiasm and loyalty.”

But not all angling clubs have felt the need to compensate their members, including Warrington Anglers Association, one of the biggest club in the north.

“We’ve only had one member ask for a refund,” says secretary Frank Lythgoe,

“but most of our members know that they have a responsibility to the club. We’re not a business like a gym, with members who join just to use our facilities – we’re a proper club, with members that support us through thick and thin.”

As a large club, controlling 33 miles of canal, over 160 acres of stillwater fishing and 60 miles-plus of river, Warrington AA rely heavily on subscriptions to cover their costs.

“Just like any other year, we have rents and various other expenses, and without income from memberships we wouldn’t be able to meet these obligations,” Frank explains.

“But we’re lucky, as we have fantastic members, who are all in this together with the club.” 

Over in the Midlands, Shrewsbury AC secretary Chris Wood reveals that their members were following a similar path.

“None of our 250 members have mentioned refunds,” he says,

“and to be honest, I’m not quite sure why someone would expect a pay-out. Sure, it’s frustrating that we can’t fish, but the closure of fisheries isn’t something that the club have decided – it’s a government measure that’s there to protect people’s safety.

“If we lost membership income as a result of the lockdown, the club would suffer. Thankfully, our members are happy to continue supporting the club while respecting the Government’s decision. 

“At the end of the day, this won’t last forever, the water and the  fish will still be there when we are allowed on the bank again. Let’s look forward to that.”

No licence refund...for now

THE Environment Agency have confirmed that they are not currently offering out refunds for fishing licences as a result of the current COVID-19 lockdown.

There have been growing calls on social media for the Agency to provide some compensation to anglers, who have not been able to get out on the bank due to social distancing laws.

A spokesperson from the EA told Angling Times:

“We do not know how long the restrictions on movement will apply and so do not know what impact Coronavirus will have on people’s opportunities to go fishing over the rest of the year.

“We are not currently offering a refund on licences or other options such as extending the period of time a licence is valid. We are, however, continuing to review the situation and will take any action at the appropriate time.

“In the mean time we urge anglers to follow government guidelines on leaving the house only when necessary.”

For all the latest updates on how Coronavirus will impact your fishing, head to our ‘Lockdown Lowdown’ page.