Bangor University Sea Watcher App Data Privacy Notice
Introduction
The Sea Watcher app is developed to collect information on marine mammal sightings, increasing
the data collection capability of researchers aiming to better understand the distribution and
behaviours of dolphins, whales and marine megafauna in the UK and European waters.
Data Owner and Data Protection
Bangor University (BU) is the data controller in relation to your information, as defined in the Data
Protection Act 2018 and is committed to protecting your rights, in line with the Data Protection Act
2018 (DPA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The University’s nominated
representative for data protection legislation and the Data Protection Officer is:
Head of Governance and Compliance Governance and Compliance
Team Corporate Services
Bangor University
College Road
Bangor
Gwynedd
LL57 2DG
This statement explains how the University handles and uses your personal information. The
University is committed to protecting your personal information and to being transparent about what
information it holds. The University has a range of data protection-related policies and procedures in
place which can be found here: https://www.bangor.ac.uk/planning/dataprotection/index.php.en
Data Collection
When using this app, we will collect the following information from you:
Your location while performing walking and sea surveys
Your location while recording a casual sighting
Your email address
Your name
A Username you create
Unique identifier for your device
Recording your location is important to provide an accurate position of where you saw a marine
animal. Your email address is recorded so we may contact you to verify the sighting you recorded.
Data Usage and Data Sharing
We are collecting information about you because you have given us your consent. Your information
is being collected for better understanding the distribution and conservation status of marine
megafauna around the UK only.
Your information will be shared with The Seawatch Foundation, a national charity working to improve
the conservation and protection of whales, dolphins and porpoises in British and Irish waters. The
Seawatch Foundation may contact you to verify a sighting you submitted, by submitting your details,
you consent to be contacted via email for this purpose.
Any data that is shared with these collaborators will be held securely in accordance with the General
Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
When you submit a sighting via the Seawatcher app, you are given the option for this sighting to be
listed anonymously, with your name, or with a user name that you create. This will be displayed for
others to see who has also accessed the Seawatcher app.
Your personal data will be held only as long as is necessary, and the sightings data you submit will be
held indefinitely for a variety of research outcomes relating to marine mammal sightings. Data will be
stored securely on password-protected systems.
User Rights
You have a right to access your personal information, to object to the processing of your personal
information, to rectify, to erase, to restrict and port your personal information. If you have provided
consent to BU to process any of your data then you also have a right to withdraw that consent. Please
visit the University Data Protection webpages for further information in relation to your rights:
https://www.bangor.ac.uk/planning/dataprotection/index.php.en. Any requests or objections should
be made in writing to the University Data Protection Officer. Security Data protection legislation
requires us to keep your information secure. This means that your confidentiality will be respected,
and all appropriate measures will be taken to prevent unauthorised access and disclosure. Only
members of staff who need access to relevant parts or all of your information will be authorised to do
so. Information about you in electronic form will be subject to password and other security
restrictions, and paper files will be stored in secure areas with controlled access.
Further information on these processes can be found in the University’s Information Security Policy.
The University retains your information in line with established higher education retention schedules.
Further information can be found in the University’s retention schedule which can be accessed here:
https://www.bangor.ac.uk/planning/records-management.php.en.
If you are unhappy with the way in which your personal information has been processed you may, in
the first instance, contact the University Data Protection Officer using the contact details above. If you
remain dissatisfied then you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at - The Information Commissioner 2nd
Floor Churchill House Churchill Way Cardiff CF10 2HH Tel: 02920 678 400
