Privacy Statement
This Privacy Statement explains how the Journal of Marine Studies (JoMS) ("we", "us") collects, uses, shares, and safeguards personal data of authors, reviewers, editors, readers, and visitors to our websites and submission systems (collectively, the "Services"). We are committed to handling personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws and prevailing standards in scholarly publishing.
Who we are (Data Controller)
JoMS is the data controller for personal data processed through its websites, editorial management systems, and related platforms. When you submit personal data to third‑party platforms linked from our Services, such as ORCID, Crossref, or analytics providers, those platforms act as independent data controllers and their privacy notices apply.
Scope
This Statement applies to personal data processed for manuscript submission, peer review, and editorial workflows; for journal website access, content hosting, and reader services such as alerts and newsletters; for author services during proofing, production, and publication; and for post‑publication activities including indexing, corrections, retractions, and metrics. It does not cover research data about study participants included in manuscripts or supplementary files except as described in Section 9.
Personal data we collect
JoMS collects only the data needed to deliver the Services. Account, profile, and identity data may include your name, title, affiliation, department, role (author, editor, reviewer), professional contact details, country or region, ORCID iD and other persistent identifiers you choose to provide, together with usernames, account identifiers, and profile preferences. Manuscript and peer‑review data may include manuscript records such as titles, abstracts, keywords, co‑author details, competing interest disclosures, funding information, ethics approvals, review invitations and responses, reviewer reports, editorial decisions, correspondence, authorship contribution statements, and revision histories. Technical and usage data may include IP address, device and browser information, operating system, pages viewed, referral URLs, session duration, interactions, and information gathered via cookies and similar technologies as further described in Section 7. Communications data includes emails and messages sent through the submission system, surveys and feedback, together with consent records and marketing preferences. JoMS does not intentionally collect special category data (for example, health or ethnicity) unless you voluntarily provide it where relevant to a submission; please avoid including unnecessary personal data.
Legal bases for processing
Depending on your relationship with JoMS and the activity involved, we process personal data under one or more legal bases. Contractual necessity applies when we manage submissions, peer review, publication, and related author services. Legitimate interests support processing to ensure research integrity, prevent fraud and misconduct, improve our Services, maintain accurate scholarly records, and measure site performance; we balance these interests against your rights and freedoms. Consent is relied upon for optional features, such as newsletters, for the linking of external identifiers like ORCID, or when you choose to provide certain data. Legal obligations may require processing to comply with applicable laws, court orders, tax and accounting rules, or research‑integrity requirements.
How we use personal data
We use personal data to identify and communicate with suitable editors and reviewers, manage editorial assessments, and reach decisions during peer review. We use it to produce and host articles, manage metadata, register DOIs, and ensure appropriate indexing of content. We process data to detect and address plagiarism and redundant publication and to manage corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern. We analyze usage in order to improve the Services, to maintain performance and security, and to operate our websites and systems. We send transactional communications such as submission receipts, decision letters, and proofs, and—with your consent—send newsletters or alerts that you may unsubscribe from at any time. JoMS does not use personal data for automated decision‑making that produces legal or similarly significant effects without human involvement.
Sharing and disclosures
We disclose personal data only as needed to operate the Services. Editorial stakeholders, including editors, associate editors, guest editors, and reviewers, may access data relevant to a manuscript or review invitation. Reviewer identities may be kept confidential in double‑anonymous workflows; where peer review is open, JoMS follows the stated policy and seeks consent where appropriate. We engage reputable service providers for hosting, submission systems, production, plagiarism detection, indexing, analytics, and email delivery, and we require those providers to process data only on our instructions and to maintain appropriate security and confidentiality. We share metadata with indexing and registry services such as DOI registration agencies and, if you choose to connect your iD, with ORCID and other persistent identifier services. Where necessary for research‑integrity purposes, we may share data with institutions, funders, or COPE‑aligned bodies, and we may disclose information where required by law or to protect rights, safety, and security. JoMS does not sell personal data.
International transfers
Personal data may be processed in countries other than your country of residence. When data is transferred internationally, JoMS uses appropriate safeguards, such as Standard Contractual Clauses or other legally recognized mechanisms, and implements measures designed to protect your rights.
Research data and human participants
Authors are responsible for ensuring that any personal data about research participants included in manuscripts or supplementary files has been lawfully collected and, where required, that informed consent for publication has been obtained. Data should be adequately de‑identified before submission whenever possible. JoMS may publish case details, images, or datasets only with appropriate consent or ethical approval, and we may request evidence of consent or ethics review during editorial assessment.
Data retention
JoMS retains personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes described in this Statement. Manuscript and peer‑review records are retained to preserve the scholarly record and to support research‑integrity obligations, and core metadata such as information about authors, editors, reviewers, decisions, and dates may be kept indefinitely. User accounts are retained while active and may be deactivated or deleted after a reasonable period—such as thirty‑six months of inactivity—subject to archiving needs. Communications and operational logs are retained for operational and legal purposes—such as twenty‑four months—while marketing preferences are stored until you withdraw consent or unsubscribe. Where feasible, data is anonymized or aggregated for long‑term analytics.
Data security
JoMS implements technical and organizational measures appropriate to the risks of processing personal data. These measures include access controls, encryption in transit, secure hosting, vulnerability management, regular backups, staff training, vendor due diligence, and incident‑response procedures. Although no system is entirely secure, JoMS will notify individuals and authorities of data breaches where required by law.
Your rights
Depending on your location, you may have rights to access, correct, or update personal data; to erase personal data subject to limits where retention is necessary for the scholarly record or legal obligations; to restrict or object to certain processing, including direct marketing; to receive data in a machine‑readable format; and to withdraw consent where processing is based on consent without affecting the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal. To exercise these rights, contact us using the details in Section 1. We will respond within the period required by applicable law and may need to verify your identity and consult editorial stakeholders to protect the integrity of the peer‑review process.
Third‑party links
Our Services may contain links to external sites or services. JoMS is not responsible for their privacy practices, and you should review their policies before providing personal data.
Changes to this Statement
We may update this Statement to reflect legal, technical, or business developments. The updated version will be posted with a new effective date, and where appropriate we will communicate material changes through the Services or by email.
How to contact us
For questions, requests, or complaints about this Statement or our data practices, contact JoMS at the email address and postal address provided in the Contact Section (joms@unimal.ac.id). You may also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.
Summary
In brief, JoMS collects only what is necessary to manage submissions, peer review, publication, and site functionality; shares personal data only to operate the Services and never for sale; allows you to control marketing communications; retains core scholarly‑record metadata while limiting other retention; and responds to privacy requests within applicable legal timeframes.
