Privacy & Cookies Policy
Last updated: 28 August 2026
The Euro Clean Oceans Association takes the privacy of website visitors seriously.
This policy explains what personal data we collect through eurocleanoceans.org, why we use it, who it may be shared with and the choices available to you.
You may ask us for a copy of the personal data we hold about you or request its deletion at any time. Some rights are subject to legal exceptions, which we explain below.
Who We Are
The Euro Clean Oceans Association, referred to as “ECOA”, “we”, “us” or “our”, is the controller of the personal data described in this policy.
You can contact us about your personal data using:
Euro Clean Oceans Association
Website: eurocleanoceans.org
Email: info@eurocleanoceans.org
Information We Collect
Information you provide
We collect information that you provide when you:
- register your interest in ECOA membership
- complete a contact or enquiry form
- ask to receive ECOA news or membership updates
- correspond with us by email
- request access to, correction of or deletion of your personal data
Depending on the form or enquiry, this information may include:
- your name
- email address
- telephone number
- organisation
- job title or role
- country
- the subject and content of your enquiry
- your communication preferences
- any other information you choose to provide
The current membership-interest form asks for your email address so that ECOA can respond to your interest and provide relevant information about the association.
Please do not submit sensitive personal information through the website unless we have specifically asked you to provide it.
Information collected automatically
When you visit the website, our systems and service providers may collect limited technical information, including:
- your IP address
- browser and device type
- operating system
- pages visited and interactions with the website
- date and time of access
- referring website or source
- technical error, performance and security information
- your cookie and privacy preferences
Some of this information is collected through server logs, cookies and similar technologies.
How We Use Your Information
| Purpose | Information Used | Lawful Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Responding to enquiries and membership-interest registrations | Contact details and information submitted through forms | Our legitimate interest in responding to people interested in ECOA and taking steps at your request |
| Providing requested ECOA or membership updates | Email address and communication preferences | Your consent or our legitimate interests where communication is reasonably expected and legally permitted |
| Managing correspondence and maintaining appropriate records | Contact details, correspondence and enquiry history | Our legitimate interests in administering ECOA and keeping accurate records |
| Operating and securing the website | IP address, device data, security logs and form-submission data | Our legitimate interests in maintaining a secure and reliable website and complying with legal obligations |
| Preventing spam, fraud and automated abuse | Technical data and browser or device information | Our legitimate interests in protecting the website and its users |
| Understanding and improving the website | Cookie identifiers, page views, interactions and technical data | Your consent |
| Complying with legal requirements | Information relevant to the legal requirement | Compliance with a legal obligation |
| Establishing or defending legal claims | Relevant contact, technical and correspondence information | Our legitimate interests and the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims |
Where we rely on legitimate interests, we consider whether our interests are proportionate and whether your rights override them.
Where we rely on consent, you may withdraw it at any time. Withdrawal does not affect processing that took place before consent was withdrawn.
Membership Information
Registering an interest through the website does not itself create ECOA membership.
If you subsequently apply for or become an ECOA member, we may provide additional privacy information covering membership administration, payments, representatives, events and other member services.
Communications From ECOA
If you register your interest in ECOA or ask for updates, we may contact you about:
- ECOA’s development and activities
- membership opportunities
- events, consultations or industry initiatives
- information relevant to ECOA’s stated purpose
You can ask us to stop sending these communications at any time by using the unsubscribe option in an email or contacting us directly.
We may retain a limited suppression record after you unsubscribe so that we can respect your preference.
Website Forms
Information submitted through our website forms is processed through the website and stored within systems used to manage enquiries.
We may also receive a copy by email so that an authorised ECOA representative can respond.
Our forms use Cloudflare Turnstile to distinguish genuine users from automated submissions. Turnstile may process technical information such as your IP address, browser characteristics, device information and interactions with the security check.
This information is used for security and fraud-prevention purposes. You can read more in Cloudflare’s Privacy Policy.
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use the website and to improve its content, structure and performance.
Google Analytics may collect information such as:
- pages visited
- approximate location
- device and browser type
- referring source
- time spent on the website
- interactions with website content
- technical performance information
Google Analytics may briefly process your IP address to derive approximate location information. ECOA receives reports and statistics rather than information intended to identify you by name.
We do not use Google Analytics for advertising, remarketing or cross-site profiling.
Google Analytics cookies are only placed after you choose to allow analytics cookies. You can withdraw that permission through the website’s cookie settings.
Google may process information through Google companies and infrastructure located outside the UK or European Economic Area. Further information is available in Google’s Privacy Policy and its information about safeguarding Analytics data.
Cookies
Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. Similar technologies may also store or access information through your browser.
We use cookies for the purposes described below.
Strictly necessary cookies
These support essential website functions such as:
- website security
- spam and abuse prevention
- processing form submissions
- remembering your cookie choices
- maintaining website stability
These technologies are necessary for the website to function properly and cannot always be disabled through our cookie controls.
Analytics cookies
Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors use the website. They are not required for the website to work.
| Cookie | Provider | Purpose | Typical Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
_ga | Google Analytics | Distinguishes one browser from another for website statistics | Up to two years |
_ga_<measurement-id> | Google Analytics | Maintains information about a website visit or session | Up to two years |
| Cookie-preference cookie | ECOA or its consent provider | Remembers whether you accepted or rejected optional cookies | Up to 12 months |
| Security identifiers or cookies | ECOA or Cloudflare | Protects forms and the website from abuse or automated activity | Session-based or for the period required for security |
Cookie names and durations can change when services are updated. We periodically review the technologies used by the website and update this policy where necessary.
Managing Cookies
When you first visit the website, you can accept or reject analytics cookies through the cookie notice.
You can change your choice at any time using the Cookie Settings link available on the website.
Rejecting analytics cookies will not prevent you from accessing the website or submitting a form.
You can also delete or block cookies through your browser settings. Blocking strictly necessary technologies may affect the operation of some website features.
Google also provides a Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.
Who We Share Information With
We may share personal data with organisations that help us operate ECOA and the website, including:
- website hosting, maintenance and security providers
- email and communications providers
- Google, where Google Analytics has been accepted
- Cloudflare, for website and form security
- professional advisers such as accountants, insurers or legal advisers
- public bodies, regulators or law-enforcement authorities where required by law
- a successor organisation if ECOA is restructured or its activities are transferred
Service providers may only use personal data for the services they provide to us and must protect it appropriately.
We do not sell personal data.
International Data Transfers
Some service providers may process personal data outside the UK or European Economic Area.
Where required, we use appropriate safeguards for international transfers. These may include:
- a government or regulatory adequacy decision
- approved contractual protections
- the UK International Data Transfer Agreement or UK Addendum
- European Commission Standard Contractual Clauses
- another lawful transfer mechanism
You may contact us for further information about the safeguards applying to your personal data.
How Long We Keep Information
We keep personal data only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected.
Our normal retention periods are:
| Information | Normal Retention |
|---|---|
| Membership-interest and website enquiry information | Up to 24 months after the last meaningful contact, unless you ask us to delete it sooner or it becomes part of a membership record |
| Requested email updates | Until you withdraw your consent, unsubscribe or the service ends |
| Security and server logs | Normally up to 90 days, unless required for investigating an incident |
| Google Analytics event data | Up to 14 months |
| Aggregated website statistics | May be retained for longer where they no longer identify an individual |
| Cookie preference records | Up to 12 months or until you change your preference |
| Privacy-rights requests | As long as reasonably required to demonstrate that the request was handled correctly |
We may keep information for longer where required by law or where it is reasonably necessary to establish, exercise or defend a legal claim.
Your Data Protection Rights
Depending on the law applying to you, you may have the right to:
- ask whether we hold personal data about you
- request a copy of your personal data
- have inaccurate or incomplete information corrected
- request deletion of your personal data
- ask us to restrict how your information is used
- object to processing based on legitimate interests
- withdraw consent
- receive certain information in a portable format
- complain to a data protection regulator
The right to deletion is not absolute. We may need to retain limited information where required by law, necessary for legal claims or required to record that you have opted out of communications.
To exercise a right, contact info@eurocleanoceans.org.** **We may need to ask for information to verify your identity before completing the request.
We normally respond within one month, although the law may allow additional time for complex requests.
Complaints
Please contact us first if you have concerns about how we use your personal data. We will try to resolve the matter promptly.
If you are in the UK, you may also complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
If you are in the European Economic Area, you may complain to the data protection authority in the country where you live, work or believe an infringement occurred. A list of authorities is available through the European Data Protection Board.
Security
We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal data from unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure or loss.
However, internet transmission is never completely secure. You should avoid sending sensitive or confidential information through a general website form unless specifically requested.
Children’s Information
This website is intended for organisations, professionals and adults interested in ECOA’s activities. It is not directed at children and we do not knowingly collect personal data from children through the website.
Automated Decision-Making
We do not use personal data collected through this website to make decisions about you solely through automated processing.
Third-Party Websites
The website may link to websites operated by other organisations. Those organisations are responsible for their own privacy practices.
We recommend reading the privacy information on any third-party website before submitting personal data.
Changes To This Policy
We may update this policy when our activities, website services or legal obligations change.
The current version will always be published on this page with its latest revision date. Where a change materially affects how we use personal data, we will take reasonable steps to notify affected individuals.
Contact Us
Questions, requests or concerns about this policy can be sent to:
Euro Clean Oceans Association
Email: info@eurocleanoceans.org