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Privacy Policy for the John Nurminen Foundation Group’s customer and supporter register
Privacy Policy for the John Nurminen Foundation’s stakeholder register
Privacy Policy for the John Nurminen Foundation’s Recruitment and manuscript filing system 
Cookie policy of the John Nurminen Foundation

Privacy Policy for the John Nurminen Foundation Group’s customer and supporter register

This privacy policy (hereinafter the “Privacy Policy”) for the John Nurminen Foundation and its subsidiary Baltic Sea Services Oy’s (“JNS” or “we”) customer and supporter register was created on 24 May 2018 and was last updated on 10 May 2023. The updates are described in more detail in Section 12. Amendments to the Privacy Policy

In this Privacy Policy, we provide a detailed description of how JNS collects and processes the personal data of contact persons for our customers, donors and other supporters, and of employees working with our potential customers’ and partners’ sponsorship and sustainability issues. You can also find more information about your rights with regard to the processing of your personal data.

JNS respects your privacy and is committed to processing your personal data in an appropriate manner in compliance with both this Privacy Policy and the European Union’s (“EU”) General Data Protection Regulation (2016/679) and other applicable legislation (together “Data Protection Legislation”).

1. Controller

The John Nurminen Foundation is the controller of any data processing described in this policy that is not related to book and product sales or e-commerce:

John Nurminen Foundation
Pasilankatu 2
00240 Helsinki, Finland

Baltic Sea Services Oy, a subsidiary of the John Nurminen Foundation, is the controller of data processing that relates to book and product sales and e-commerce:
Baltic Sea Services Oy
Pasilankatu 2
00240 Helsinki, Finland
myynti(a)balticseaservices.fi

2. Contact person

Anni Kujala
Pasilankatu 2
00240 Helsinki
rekisteri(a)jnfoundation.fi
+358 50 467 6740

3. Name of the register

John Nurminen Foundation and Baltic Sea Services Oy customer and supporter register

4. The purpose of and legal basis for processing your personal data

We process personal data for the purposes described below, such as managing and developing customer, donor or supporter relations, and for targeting our communications and marketing to both private persons and communities and their contact persons. We collect only the personal data that is necessary in relation to the purposes for which it is being processed.

The purpose of processing your personal data is:
– Carrying out and managing an agreement, for example, when you order products from JNS’s webstore
– Product delivery, invoicing and debt collection
– Customer service
– Managing monthly and other donations, and fulfilling accounting obligations
– Publishing the information you wish to appear in the donor register
– Sending supporter reports and other communications about the use of donation funds
– Sending information to collection organisers about the total amount collected and the donors who participated in commemorative and anniversary collections
– Developing our activities and customer experience
– Designing and developing our products and services
– Organising events
– Collecting feedback
– Sending information about JNS’s ongoing projects
– Organising promotional prize draws and competitions, and their associated communications
– Customer acquisition, direct marketing and marketing communications for the purpose of acquiring donations

Customer relationship management

The legal basis for processing personal data for customer relationship management, managing donor and supporter relations, and keeping in contact with partners is either JNS’s legitimate interest or to enable JNS to implement agreements.

In connection with customer relationship management, the primary purpose of processing personal data is to carry out business transactions between the customer and JNS, for example, when you make a donation or order products from the Foundation’s online store. Personal data can be processed for purposes such as invoicing, customer service, product delivery or collecting overdue invoices.

In connection with the management of donor and partner relations, we also process personal data for publishing the information specified by the donor in a public donor register or providing information about how donations have been used.

Competitions and prize draws

Within the framework of our activities, we organise a variety of competitions and prize draws on our website, in our communication channels (such as social media) and on our partners’ premises. In this case, the legal basis for the processing of your personal data is JNS’s legitimate interest in running promotional prize draws and/or competitions, and sending associated communications or carrying out other related activities after you have entered a competition or prize draw arranged by us, or when you have given us your permission to publish content submitted at exhibitions, on our website, or in another of our communication channels (including social media). When you enter a prize draw, we may ask for your consent to direct digital marketing.

Direct marketing

We may process your personal data for direct marketing purposes and to target marketing, in which case the legal basis for processing data is JNS’s legitimate interest. In this case, we may contact you by phone or letter in order to market things such as fundraisers or activities. You have the right to prohibit the processing of your personal data for direct marketing purposes at any time.

Direct digital marketing

We process your personal data for direct digital marketing with your consent. In this case, we may contact you by email in order to market things such as fundraisers or activities. Our direct digital marketing also includes our newsletter, which contains information about progress on JNS’s projects and other current topics that we believe will be of interest to you.

We may also send direct digital marketing on the basis of an earlier customer relationship or an authorisation based on your position. In this case, the legal basis for processing your personal data is JNS’s legitimate interest.

Based on our legitimate interest, your personal data may also be used for profiling, for example, for marketing purposes. JNS does not make any automated decisions that would have legal implications.

At any time, you have the right to object to the processing of your personal data for the purposes of direct marketing or profiling for direct marketing.

We also use cookies and other similar technologies on our website and in our newsletters, to ensure the functionality of our website, to develop and improve our user experience, and to target relevant marketing. You can read more about the cookies we use, their purpose and retention periods in our Cookie Policy.

5. What personal data do we collect and from where?

We collect the following personal data in our customer and supporter register:
– person’s name
– age/year of birth
– position and company/organisation
– contact details (such as address, email address and telephone number)
– the start and end time of the customer relationship and/or other contact, and the contact method
– invoicing details and payments
– customer history, notes about the customer relationship and notes about meetings
– donation information and information required to process bequests
– school and grade in connection with our Taksvärkki collection
– information about subscription to the newsletter mailing list
– information about consent to/prohibition of direct marketing
– other information necessary for organising and developing events, such as dietary requirements and restrictions
– other information necessary for a competition or prize draw, such as a photo submitted by a competition or prize draw entrant and the name of the photographer
– any other information necessary for accepting donations, customer account management and partnerships.

As a rule, we mainly collect data for the customer and supporter register from you yourself, for example, when you give us information via online forms or social media services, by email or telephone, in agreements, via event registrations and payment information, when entering a competition or prize draw, and at customer meetings or other events at which you disclose your information.

Personal data may also be collected from public sources or from companies that provide services for updating and obtaining personal data. These include Posti’s consumer register update service, Suomen Asiakastieto Oy’s decision-maker register and Profinder’s corporate and consumer information registers.

In addition, we collect personal information using cookies and other similar technologies on our website and in our newsletters.

6. Will your personal data be disclosed or transferred to third parties?

We only transfer your personal data when it is necessary to carry out one of the aforementioned purposes. JNS may transfer your personal data to parties involved in the provision, maintenance and development of JNS’s services, communications and marketing, or to its other partners, and these parties may process your personal data for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy.

Our partners for customer service and marketing include Sanoma Media Finland Oy, Barona Oy, Gainer Oy and LiveRing Oy. Your data may also be transferred to other subcontractors and service providers that are responsible for IT, software, accounting and other similar services. JNS will enter into the necessary contractual arrangements with third parties to ensure that your personal data is processed in accordance with Data Protection Legislation.

If you make a donation to a commemorative or anniversary collection, we will send your name to the collection organiser. Your personal data may also be disclosed to third parties in certain situations, such as those in which its disclosure is required by law or official regulations.

Please note that third parties may process the information collected via cookies and social media plugins on our website.

JNS or its service providers may use companies located outside the EU or European Economic Area (“EEA”) to process personal data or provide services. Personal data will only be transferred out of the EU or EEA when there are justified grounds for doing so and in compliance with Data Protection Legislation.

7. Joint controllers

When JNS administers pages on Facebook and Instagram, JNS and Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd (“Facebook”) are the joint controllers of JNS’s Facebook and Instagram pages, as applicable. Your personal data will be used for purposes such as keeping you informed about JNS’s work/events and how donations have been used; running competitions and prize draws; marketing and collecting feedback; purchasing and measuring the performance of Facebook advertisements; and better targeting communications. The legal basis for processing your personal data is JNS’s legitimate interest.

JNS collects data through its Facebook and Instagram pages in the form of, for example, likes and other reactions, comments, visits, post visibility, and personal data submitted in connection with competitions. The information that JNS receives from Facebook is the person’s user name, public profile picture, and any other data that has been marked as public. Data subjects may provide other personal data in comments on social media pages or via messaging services.

Where applicable, we are also joint controllers with Facebook with respect to the cookies used in Facebook’s social media plugins and certain services relating to Facebook’s advertising networks. You can read more about cookies and social media plugins in our Cookie Policy.

In Facebook’s privacy policy, you can read how and on what legal basis Facebook processes your data, and how you can exercise your rights under data protection legislation. We have signed a joint controller agreement with Facebook that describes JNS’s and Facebook’s responsibilities with respect to the data we collect. Please note that if you wish to exercise your rights under data protection legislation with respect to data processed by Facebook, you should contact Facebook.

You can restrict the processing of your personal data by unliking and/or unfollowing a page. You can also request a conversation to be deleted from a messaging service. You can also choose not to accept non-essential cookies when you visit our website, or withdraw your previously given consent.

8. How is your personal data processed and protected?

JNS processes your personal data only for the aforementioned purposes and only for the purposes for which the data was originally collected. The protection of your personal data is important to us, and we comply with both good data management practices and the due diligence and obligations laid down in Data Protection Legislation. We adhere to generally accepted technical and organisational measures to prevent any unauthorised or unlawful processing or misuse of personal data, and to protect personal data from loss, alteration or deletion. The electronically processed personal data contained in the register is protected by means of firewalls, passwords and other technical means that are generally used and accepted in the information security industry. Workstations and IT systems are protected using personal usernames and passwords. Our workstations also utilise two-factor authentication. Manually maintained material is located in facilities to which unauthorised access is prevented. Access to the personal data contained in the register is granted only to designated employees of the Foundation or of an enterprise acting for or on behalf of the Foundation, and only to the extent that is required to carry out the task at hand. Our employees have signed a non-disclosure agreement.

9. For how long will your personal data be retained?

We comply with statutory retention periods, and will retain your personal data only for as long as is necessary, and to the extent that is required, to carry out the purposes for which the personal data is being processed as defined in this Privacy Policy (for example, for the duration of a contractual term).

10. What are your rights as a data subject?

As a data subject, you have the following rights with regard to your personal data in the customer and supporter register:

– The right to access and verify your data: You have the right to receive confirmation from us about whether or not your personal data is being processed; and if your personal data is being processed, you have the right to access and verify all of the personal data being held about you in the customer and supporter register.
– The right to correct, delete and restrict the processing of your data: You have the right to require us to correct any inaccurate, unnecessary, incomplete or outdated personal data without undue delay. You have the right to request us to delete any of your personal data that is no longer required for the purpose for which it was originally collected or processed, or if you suspect that your personal data is being processed illegally, or if your personal data must be deleted to comply with a legal obligation (that applies to the controller). You also have the right to request a restriction on the processing of your data. Please note that deleting or restricting the use of your personal data may, for instance, result in a deterioration in your customer service experience, that you can no longer be a monthly donor, or that you no longer receive our newsletters or information on our project progress.
– The right to object to the processing of your data: When the basis for processing personal data is JNS’s legitimate interest, you have the right to object to the processing of your personal data with respect to a specific personal situation. The exception to this is when JNS can demonstrate that there is a very important and justified reason that overrides the data subject’s interests, or if processing is necessary for the preparation, presentation or defence of a legal claim. However, you always have the right to object to the processing of your personal data for direct marketing purposes (including profiling) without any justification. Please note that objecting to the processing of your personal data may, for instance, result in a deterioration in your customer service experience, that you can no longer be a monthly donor, or that you no longer receive our newsletters or information on our project progress.
– The right to transfer data from one system to another: You have the right to transfer the personal data you supplied to JNS to another controller. This transfer right covers automatically processed personal data whose processing is based on your consent or an agreement to which you are a party. JNS will send the data in a machine-readable and commonly used format to you, and will also send the data directly to the other controller if this is technically possible.
– The right to withdraw consent: If your personal data is being processed on the basis of your consent, you may withdraw your consent to such processing at any time by contacting us.

If you would like to exercise any of the rights described above, would like to receive more information about the processing of your personal data, or have any comments on its processing, you can contact us at any time by sending an email to rekisteri(a)jnfoundation.fi.

11. Lodging a complaint with the supervisory authority

JNS always aims to resolve any disputes regarding the processing of your personal data directly with you. If you believe that JNS has not processed your personal data in accordance with applicable Data Protection Legislation, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority. The contact details for the supervisory authority are:

Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman
P.O. Box 800
00531 HELSINKI
Visiting address: Lintulahdenkuja 4, 00530 Helsinki
email: tietosuoja@om.fi
telephone exchange: +358 (0)29 56 66700
www.tietosuoja.fi.

12. Amendments to the Privacy Policy

We continuously strive to develop our services and privacy protection, and therefore reserve the right to change this Privacy Policy by placing a notification of change on this page. The Privacy Policy may also be updated in order to reflect changes in legislation. We recommend that you revisit this Privacy Policy on a regular basis.

The following updates have been made to this Privacy Policy:

– Update 30 November 2021 We revised and clarified the purposes of processing personal data, and added that we may also collect personal data from public sources.
– Update 31 January 2023 We added that personal data may also be collected from companies that provide services for updating and obtaining personal data.
– Update 10 May 2023 We combined the privacy policies for our customer and supporter register and our competitions and prize draws register, and the name of the document was changed to the “Privacy policy for the John Nurminen Foundation Group’s customer and supporter register”. We clarified from which public sources personal data is obtained, and to whom our customer service and marketing partners may disclose personal data.

Privacy Policy for the John Nurminen Foundation’s stakeholder register

This privacy policy (hereinafter the “Privacy Policy”) for the John Nurminen Foundation’s (“JNS” or “we”) stakeholder register was created on 29 May 2018 and updated on 30 November 2021. In this Privacy Policy, we provide a detailed description of how JNS collects and processes the personal data of representatives of our various stakeholders. You can also find more information about your rights with regard to the processing of your personal data.

JNS respects your privacy and is committed to processing your personal data in an appropriate manner in compliance with both this Privacy Policy and the European Union’s (“EU”) General Data Protection Regulation (2016/679) and other applicable legislation (together “Data Protection Legislation”).

1. Controller

John Nurminen Foundation
Pasilankatu 2
00240 Helsinki, Finland
info(a)jnfoundation.fi

2. Contact person for the privacy policy and person responsible for data protection

Anni Kujala
Pasilankatu 2
00240 Helsinki
rekisteri(a)jnfoundation.fi
+358 50 467 6740

3. Name of the register

John Nurminen Foundation stakeholder register

4. The purpose of and legal basis for processing your personal data

We process personal data in order to manage and develop communications and collaborative partnerships with, for example, the contact persons for our project partners, government ministries, authorities and service providers, media representatives, Baltic Sea Action Day partners, as well as members of steering groups appointed to our projects. In order to acquire new partners for sustainability projects, JNS may also reach out to employees of potential partner companies whose responsibilities include stakeholder engagement, sponsorship, or sustainability issues. We collect only the personal data that is necessary in relation to the purposes for which it is being processed. The purpose of processing your personal data is:

– Sending information about JNS’s ongoing projects
– Keeping you informed about JNS’s activities
– Sending out press releases and media invitations
– Convening steering group meetings
– Sending invitations to JNS’s events and meetings
– Managing other collaborator and stakeholder relations
– Managing Baltic Sea Action Day events, activities and other contacts
– Contacting new and potential partners and partner companies.

The legal basis for processing stakeholders’ personal data is JNS’s legitimate interest and to enable JNS to implement agreements. JNS does not make any automated decisions that would have legal implications.

We may also process data about employees of our stakeholder organisations for direct marketing purposes. Our direct marketing mainly covers our newsletter, which is sent either by email or post, and contains information about progress on JNS’s projects and other current topics that we believe will be of interest to our stakeholders and their employees. The Foundation’s newsletter is only sent to those people who have subscribed to it. Consent is the basis for processing personal data in this context. You have the right to prohibit the processing of your personal data for direct marketing purposes at any time.

We also use cookies and other similar technologies on our website and in our newsletters, to ensure the functionality of our website, to develop and improve our user experience, and to target relevant marketing. You can read more about the cookies we use, their purpose and retention periods in our Cookie Policy.

5. What personal data do we collect and from where?

We collect the following personal data in our stakeholder register:

– person’s name
– position and company/organisation
– contact details (such as address, email address and telephone number)
– information about consent to/prohibition of direct marketing
– information about subscription to the newsletter mailing list
– the start and end time of the contact, and the contact method
– notes about the stakeholder relationship and notes about meetings
– any other necessary information relating to cooperation
– any other information necessary for organising and developing events, such as dietary requirements and restrictions.

As a rule, we mainly collect data for the stakeholder register from you yourself, for example, when you give us information via online forms or social media services, by email or telephone, in agreements, or during meetings and other events at which stakeholders disclose information. We may also collect personal data from public sources and, for non-commercial purposes, from third parties on the basis of, for instance, recommendations.

In addition, we collect personal information using cookies and other similar technologies on our website and in our newsletters.

6. Will your personal data be disclosed or transferred to third parties?

We only transfer your personal data when it is necessary to carry out one of the aforementioned purposes.

JNS may transfer your personal data to parties involved in the provision, maintenance and development of JNS’s services and communications, or to its other partners, and these parties may process your personal data for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy. Your data may also be transferred to other subcontractors and service providers that are responsible for IT and other similar services. JNS will enter into the necessary contractual arrangements with third parties to ensure that your personal data is processed in accordance with Data Protection Legislation.

In principle, your personal data will not be disclosed to third parties without your consent. However, your personal data may be disclosed to third parties without your consent in some situations, such as situations in which its disclosure is required by law or official regulations. If necessary, we may also provide funding organisations, such as the European Union, with lists of event participants, so that the funders can confirm that a project’s objectives have been realised and fulfil their legal obligations.
Please note that third parties may process the information collected via cookies and social media plugins on our website.

JNS or its service providers may use companies located outside the EU or European Economic Area (“EEA”) to process personal data or provide services. Personal data will only be transferred out of the EU or EEA when there are justified grounds for doing so and in compliance with Data Protection Legislation.

7. Joint controllers

When JNS administers pages on Facebook and Instagram, JNS and Facebook Ireland Ltd (“Facebook”) are the joint controllers of JNS’s Facebook and Instagram pages, as applicable. Your personal data will be used for purposes such as keeping you informed about JNS’s work/events and how donations have been used; running competitions and prize draws; marketing and collecting feedback; purchasing and measuring the performance of Facebook advertisements; and better targeting communications. The legal basis for processing your personal data is JNS’s legitimate interest. Data used in competitions will be processed in accordance with a separate privacy policy that will be issued for each competition.
JNS collects data through its Facebook and Instagram pages in the form of, for example, likes and other reactions, comments, visits, post visibility, and personal data submitted in connection with competitions. The information that JNS receives from Facebook is the person’s user name, public profile picture, and any other data that has been marked as public. Data subjects may provide other personal data in comments on social media pages or via messaging services. This information will not be combined with other data held in personal data registers without informing the data subject or without the data subject’s consent.

Where applicable, we are also joint controllers with Facebook with respect to the cookies used in Facebook’s social media plugins and certain services relating to Facebook’s advertising networks. You can read more about cookies and social media plugins in our Cookie Policy.

In Facebook’s privacy policy, you can read how and on what legal basis Facebook processes your data, and how you can exercise your rights under data protection legislation. We have signed a joint controller agreement with Facebook that describes JNS’s and Facebook’s responsibilities with respect to the data we collect. Please note that if you wish to exercise your rights under data protection legislation with respect to data processed by Facebook, you should contact Facebook. You can restrict the processing of your personal data by unliking and/or unfollowing a page. You can also request a conversation to be deleted from a messaging service. You can also choose not to accept non-essential cookies when you visit our website, or withdraw your previously given consent.

8. How is your personal data processed and protected?

JNS processes your personal data only for the aforementioned purposes and only for the purposes for which the data was originally collected. The protection of your personal data is important to us, and we comply with both good data management practices and the due diligence and obligations laid down in Data Protection Legislation. We adhere to generally accepted technical and organisational measures to prevent any unauthorised or unlawful processing or misuse of personal data, and to protect personal data from loss, alteration or deletion. The electronically processed personal data contained in the register is protected by means of firewalls, passwords and other technical means that are generally used and accepted in the information security industry. Workstations and IT systems are protected using personal usernames and passwords. Our workstations also utilise two-factor authentication. Manually maintained material is located in facilities to which unauthorised access is prevented. Access to the personal data contained in the register is granted only to designated employees of the Foundation or of an enterprise acting for or on behalf of the Foundation, and only to the extent that is required to carry out the task at hand.

9. For how long will your personal data be retained?

We comply with statutory retention periods, and will retain your personal data only for as long as is necessary, and to the extent that is required, to carry out the purposes for which the personal data is being processed as defined in this Privacy Policy (for example, for the duration of a contractual term).

10. What are your rights as a data subject?

As a data subject, you have the following rights with regard to your personal data in the stakeholder register:

– The right to access and verify your data: You have the right to receive confirmation from us about whether or not your personal data is being processed; and if your personal data is being processed, you have the right to access and verify all of the personal data being held about you in the stakeholder register.
– The right to correct, delete and restrict the processing of your data: You have the right to require us to correct any inaccurate, unnecessary, incomplete or outdated personal data without undue delay. You have the right to request us to delete any of your personal data that is no longer required for the purpose for which it was originally collected or processed, or if you suspect that your personal data is being processed illegally, or if your personal data must be deleted to comply with a legal obligation (that applies to the controller). You also have the right to request a restriction on the processing of your data. Please note that deleting or restricting the use of your personal data may, for instance, result in you no longer receiving our newsletters or invitations to our events.
– The right to object to the processing of your data: When the basis for processing personal data is JNS’s legitimate interest, you have the right to object to the processing of your personal data with respect to a specific personal situation. The exception to this is when JNS can demonstrate that there is a very important and justified reason that overrides the data subject’s interests, or if processing is necessary for the preparation, presentation or defence of a legal claim. However, you always have the right to object to the processing of your personal data for direct marketing purposes without any justification. Please note that an objection to the processing of your personal data may, for instance, result in you no longer receiving our newsletters or invitations to our events.
– The right to transfer data from one system to another: You have the right to transfer the personal data you supplied to JNS to another controller. This transfer right covers automatically processed personal data whose processing is based on your consent or an agreement to which you are a party. JNS will send the data in a machine-readable and commonly used format to you, and will also send the data directly to the other controller if this is technically possible.
– The right to withdraw consent: If your personal data is being processed on the basis of your consent, you may withdraw your consent to such processing at any time by contacting us.

If you would like to exercise any of the rights described above, would like to receive more information about the processing of your personal data, or have any comments on its processing, you can contact us at any time by sending an email to rekisteri(a)jnfoundation.fi.

11. Lodging a complaint with the supervisory authority

JNS always aims to resolve any disputes regarding the processing of your personal data directly with you. If you believe that JNS has not processed your personal data in accordance with applicable Data Protection Legislation, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority. The contact details for the supervisory authority are:

Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman
P.O. Box 800
00531 HELSINKI
Visiting address: Lintulahdenkuja 4, 00530 Helsinki
email: tietosuoja@om.fi
telephone exchange: +358 (0)29 56 66700
www.tietosuoja.fi

12. Amendments to the Privacy Policy

We continuously strive to develop our services and privacy protection, and therefore reserve the right to change this Privacy Policy by placing a notification of change on this page. The Privacy Policy may also be updated in order to reflect changes in legislation. We recommend that you revisit this Privacy Policy on a regular basis.

John Nurminen Foundation Recruitment and manuscript filing system 

Following its entry into force on 25 May 2018 the provisions of the EU General Data Protection Regulation are applied to all organisations processing and holding personal data. The key aim of the new Regulation is to strengthen the rights and the conditions for consent of data subjects in relation to the processing of personal data. In this Privacy Statement issued by the John Nurminen Foundation (hereinafter also the Foundation), we describe in detail what personal data we collect and for what purposes personal data are used. The Privacy Statement also provides further information on the rights of data subjects. 

1. Controller

John Nurminen Foundation 
Pasilankatu 2 
00240 Helsinki 
rekisteri(a)jnfoundation.fi 

2. Contact person for the Privacy Statement

Anni Kujala 
Pasilankatu 2 
00240 Helsinki 
rekisteri(a)jnfoundation.fi 
+358 50 467 6740 

3. Name of filing system

John Nurminen Foundation Recruitment and manuscript filing system 

4. For what purposes and on what legal grounds we can use your personal data

We process personal data for the purpose of managing the application process of persons who apply for a position with the John Nurminen Foundation or submit a manuscript for publishing. Furthermore, we can process personal data in connection with diverse statistical purposes in which case personal data is, as a rule, pseudonymised in such a manner that the personal data can no longer be attributed to a specific data subject. 
The collecting of personal data of data subjects is always limited to what is necessary in relation to the purposes for which they are processed.  

Applications for positions 
Personal data is processed for purposes of carrying out and managing recruitment activities, processing applications, assessing the applicant’s suitability, and carrying out communications related to the application and recruitment. The legal basis for the processing of personal data in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation is the legitimate interest pursued by the controller. 

Manuscript submissions 
Personal data is processed for purposes of evaluating and managing the publishing project, reviewing the manuscript and carrying out communications. The legal basis for the processing of personal data in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation is the legitimate interest pursued by the controller.

5. What data are recorded

We may store the following personal data of applicants: Identifiable information such as name, personal identity code, home address, email address, and telephone number.

• Recruitment: Other information, such as education (e.g. name of degree and institution), work experience (e.g. previous employers, position held, duration of employment), language proficiency, possible information pertaining to suitability assessments, position applied for, and other information provided by the applicant.

• Manuscript: Other information, such as education, previous published works, and the manuscript.

6. How long data are retained

We retain personal data only as long as necessary for the processing purposes specified in this Privacy Statement. The retention period may be longer due to the provisions of the Accounting Act or other statutory requirements binding upon us. 

We store open applications for a maximum of 12 months and applications submitted in response to an announced vacancy for a maximum of 6 months. 

7. From what sources personal data are collected

We collect personal data primarily from data subjects themselves by means of the application and a possible interview. We may also obtain information from other sources to the extent permitted by law. In the case of recruitment, this may include data from a third party performing the suitability assessment. In such cases, we will always ask for your consent before collecting your data.

8. Regular destinations of disclosed data and transfer of data outside the EU or EEA

We can transfer personal data to our own filing systems to be processed for the purposes specified in section 4.   

Apart from our own filing systems, personal data are not disclosed or transferred to entities other than those contracted by the Foundation for the production, development or maintenance of services and communications, except in accordance with an agreement, separate explicit consent and/or specific statutory requirements. We can transfer personal data outside the EU or EEA in compliance with the conditions laid down in the provisions of the EU General Data Protection Regulation. 

9. How your personal data are secured

Protection of privacy is paramount for us, and we exercise great care in the processing operations of personal data contained in the filing system. We adhere to generally accepted standards of technology and operational security in order to prevent any unauthorised or unlawful processing or misuse and to protect personal data from loss, alteration or destruction. 

The electronically processed data contained in the filing system are protected by means of firewalls, passwords and other technical means generally accepted in the information security industry. Manually maintained material is located in facilities to which unauthorised access is prevented. Access to the data contained in the filing system is granted only to designated employees of the Foundation or of an enterprise acting for or on behalf of the Foundation. 

10. Your rights as a data subject

In comparison to the provisions of the repealed Data Protection Directive, the rights of data subjects are specified in more detail in the EU General Data Protection Regulation. The Regulation also confers a number of new rights on data subjects. As a data subject, you have the following rights to your personal data held by the Foundation:

a) Right of access to your personal data. You have the right to know whether we are processing your personal data and to review your personal data we may have collected, if any.

b) Right to rectification of inaccurate or incomplete data. If the data are inaccurate, incomplete or imprecise, you have the right to request your personal data to be rectified, e.g. by means of providing a supplementary statement.

c) Right to erasure, i.e. right to be forgotten. You may request your personal data to be erased under the following conditions:

• The personal data are no longer necessary in relation to the purposes for which they were collected or otherwise processed and there are no overriding legitimate grounds for the retention of your personal data.

• You withdraw your consent on which the processing is based and there is no other legal ground for the processing.

• You object to the processing and there are no overriding legitimate grounds for the processing.

• The personal data have been unlawfully processed.

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Goal

To reduce biogasproduction’s effects on the Baltic Sea.

Schedule

2018–2020

Status

The assesment is completed and will be utilised in the Sustainable biogas project.

Project partners

Tyrsky Consulting, Aalto-yliopisto, Pöyry Finland, Latviasta Riga Technical University, Gdańsk University of Technology, International Biogas and Bioenergy Competence Centre Germany, Århus University and Monus Minek Ltd. Estonia.

Location

Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Denmark

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Art brings light to beautiful and vivid habitats at Helsinki Biennial 2025

Text

Helmi Pörhölä Communications Specialist

helmi.porhola@jnfoundation.fi +358 50 471 1078

Common eelgrass, Zostera marina, is a seagrass species that can be found in the Baltic Sea. Artists of LOCUS, Thale Blix Fastvold and Tanja Thorjussen, created an artwork for Helsinki Biennial 2025, exploring and celebrating the species. During their visit to Tvärminne Zoological Station, the artists met with Camilla Gustafsson, a long-time researcher of common eelgrass.

The Oslo-based artists Thale Blix Fastvold and Tanja Thorjussen are one of the artists of Helsinki Biennial 2025. As a partner of the event, John Nurminen Foundation has supported and engaged in the work progress of LOCUS – for instance, by facilitating travel to Tvärminne to explore common eelgrass.

Fastvold and Thorjussen have long engaged with non-human creatures – such as pollinators and plants – in both river and marine environments. Their deep interest in common eelgrass, however, began during a visit to Tvärminne Zoological Station, where they encountered the plant firsthand.

“It was not so much that we reached out to eelgrass, it was more like eelgrass reached out to us”, Thorjussen says.

Common eelgrass – a key species of the Baltic Sea

Tvärminne Zoological Station is a marine research station of the University of Helsinki, located in the central/northern Baltic Sea, near the city of Hanko. The research at the station dates to 1902 when it was established.

Camilla Gustafsson, an academy research fellow at the station, studies marine ecosystem functioning, with a focus on seagrasses and other aquatic plants.

“Common eelgrass is a key species in the Baltic Sea and plays an important role in the shallow coastal ecosystems. The common eelgrass is a seagrass, an aquatic plant that forms underwater meadows. These meadows provide habitat and shelter for many species, produce oxygen, bind nutrients, and stabilize bottom sediments. Common eelgrass also sequester carbon, although the extent varies depending on location and growing conditions”, Gustafsson explains.

Variety of segrass species

Gustafsson explains that there are different kinds of seagrass species around the world. Some species are large and slow-growing, while others are smaller and faster-growing. For example, the Mediterranean seagrass species, Posidonia oceanica, is a kind of climax species: it is large, grows slowly and is long-lived.

The Baltic Zostera marina is somewhere between the two extremes: not the smallest and fastest-growing, but it is not quite as large and slow-growing as the Mediterranean grass either.

What all seagrasses have in common is that they are adapted to salty waters and have underground stems (rhizomes) and roots that help them anchor to the seafloor and provide them with nutrients for growth. Like many plants on land, seagrasses reproduce by flowers and seeds, but also asexually (clonally) by growing runners along the seafloor similarly to, for example, strawberry plants.

Imagining a bright future for common eelgrass

Common eelgrass is threatened by a cocktail of anthropogenic stressors: from the constant pressure of eutrophication to marine heatwaves intensified by climate change.

However, in their Biennial artwork, Fastvold and Thorjussen have chosen to create positive imaginations and visualizations for common eelgrass.

“When you love something, you want to take care of it. The stories that humans tell and hear shape our understanding of both the past and the future. We need to be able to envision a future to work towards”, Thorjussen says.

When visiting Tvärminne in 2024, the artists learned about eelgrass through the scientists and their research.

“We felt that, in a way, they are looking at dystopian future scenarios: what will happen if the water gets warmer or fresher. For us it was a good starting point to approach the future from a positive perspective. As artists, we can and like to ask questions that are a bit different and creative”, Fastvold explains.

The flowering of Zostera marina

The focus on positive scenarios led the artists to explore how common eelgrass reproduces. In the Baltic Sea, common eelgrass spreads by runners along the seafloor, by cloning itself.

“We started asking questions like, ‘Why?’ and ‘Would it be better for common eelgrass to reproduce sexually as well?’ Through some research papers we discovered that reproducing sexually would increase the genetic diversity of eelgrass, which could help it be more resilient and better able to survive different climate change scenarios” Fastvold explains.

While not based on scientific eelgrass flowers, the artists wanted to imagine the flowers of common eelgrass, inspired by their reproduction. This kind of speculation is at the very heart of their artwork.

The seagrasses often react to heat by flowering, yet in the central and northern Baltic Sea the seeds never develop into viable plants.

Myths meet scientific information

The artwork of LOCUS includes a sound work – a spell to honor Zostera Marina. It takes inspiration from a 4400-year-old poem written by Enheduanna to Sumerian goddess Inanna.

“We were inspired by this ancient text that was created thousands of years ago and wanted to bring Zostera Marina (the goddess) to light in a mythological way. So, we used the rhythm and structure of the hymn as a base and incorporated phrases and words from scientific papers that Camilla provided us to create the sound work. Then we of course added some magic of our own”, Thorjussen says.

The poem is read by the artists in unison with a hauntingly beautiful sound. In the background you hear underwater sounds the artists recorded in areas where eelgrass grows: in Tvärminne and in the port of Helsinki, where some industrial sounds can also be heard.

The Zostera Marina’s Song of Increase concludes with words that offer a sense of calmness:

We see futures of eelgrass meadows already thriving!
We see futures of healthy waters and rivers
We see a Baltic Sea flourishing and flowering in peaceful abundance
We see you Zostera

This Song of increase is yours Zostera

Hope and emotion can keep us moving

Fastvold and Thorjussen wish to give people hope – and even deeper, love – towards the underwater life and Zostera marina.

“We want people to feel that, despite the worrying scenarios and challenges, decision-makers, individuals and society at large can take meaningful action”, Fastvold says.

But does Camilla, whose research largely centers on environmental change, still have hope?

“I cannot just give up on hope – I want to believe that things will take a turn for the better. It would also be beneficial for people to hear and see that the Baltic Sea also has beautiful and vivid habitats. The Baltic Sea holds so much worth protecting, and its wellbeing should be a concern”, Gustafsson says. 

When data and facts no longer spark sufficient action, storytelling and evocative expression can help us move forward.

---

Helsinki Biennial 2025 takes place from 8 June to 21 September across three venues: Vallisaari island, HAM Helsinki Art Museum, and, for the first time, Esplanade Park in central Helsinki.

The work of LOCUS can be experienced at Helsinki Biennial in Vallisaari and HAM Helsinki Art Museum.

Read more about the Biennial

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Summer Tip: Herring Day in Seili

8 August 2024

Seili

Open for public, free of charge

At the Archipelago Sea Research Institute in Seili, you will get to explore the Baltic Sea from a herring’s perspective – welcome! You will learn about marine research and herring, get a glimpse of the underwater world, and enjoy guided tours of the exhibitions.

Herring is a key species in the Baltic Sea ecosystem. Along these Northern shores it has also fed the development of human cultures. Baltic herring has fueled maritime travel and cultural exchange already for thousands of years. Thanks to herring the coastal communities survived even the hunger years.

These days, however, the environmental changes caused by human activities are severely affecting the herring population. Industrial waste has blinded the herring and now their hearing seems to be suffering. The herring in the Archipelago Sea is growing ever thinner as it adapts to the impacts of climate change.

”Herring is truly a political animal, our companion species in the natural-cultural history of the Baltic Sea region. Similarly our futures go fin in hand”, says curator Taru Elfving, the co-founder and director of CAA (Contemporary Art Archipelago).

The Intersection of Science and Art in Seili

The Archipelago Sea Research Institute of the University of Turku has been monitoring changes in herring and its habitat since the 1980s. The Archipelago Sea Research Institute is part of the Finnish University Research Stations Network and is one of the three marine research institutes in Finland located in maritime environments. As the institute celebrates its 60th anniversary, its long-term herring research also marks its 40th anniversary.

Known for its interdisciplinary collaboration at the intersection of art and science, CAA Contemporary Art Archipelago has been operating in the Turku Archipelago since 2009, bringing together international and local artists and researchers.

The Herring Day is co-organised by Archipelago Research Institute (Turku University) and CAA Contemporary Art Archipelago in collaboration with Imagining Godzilla and John Nurminen Foundation. The event is part of a long-term collaboration between art and science in Seili, which is presented in the exhibition At The Edges of Knowledge this summer at the Archipelago Research Institute in celebration of its 60^th anniversary. The exhibition and the public event are supported by the Arts Promotion Centre Finland.

Stressed Herring returns to its home island

”How should we live in relation to our environment in an ever-changing global ecosystem, and as a cause of that change?“, asks artist and architect Arja Renell.

Arja Renell’s artwork Stressed Herring was seen at the exhibition Unknown Baltic Sea of John Nurminen Foundation, in Suomenlinnan island in the summer of 2023. The herring artwork returns this summer to its home island at the Archipelago Sea Research Institute of the University of Turku in Seili, once again renewed and still relevant as an art installation.

”We are in the midst of celebrating the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, which prominently involves enhancing ocean literacy among people. The more people who gain an understanding of the ocean’s significance to our planet’s well-being, the greater the hope for a better future for our ocean and planet. This understanding translates into action”, says the John Nurminen Foundation’s Cultural Producer Elina Tuomarila.

Programme

12.30–13.00 60 Years of Research on the Changing Sea: guided tour of the Archipelago Research Institute

13.00-14.00 What’s up Herring?: how to read the otoliths (hearing bones) of herring and the food web of the sea, guided by biologist Katja Mäkinen at the Seawater Laboratory.

14.00–15.00 Below the Surface: view the seashore through water binoculars, snorkeling, swimming or floating, guided by biologists

15.00–15.30 Music performance organized by Imagining Godzilla and guests

15.30–16.00 At the Edges of Knowledge: exhibition tour with the curator Taru Elfving

16.00–16.30 60 Years of Research on the Changing Sea: guided tour of the Archipelago Research Institute

The program is open to the public, and participants can join any parts they wish. The event will be in Finnish and English

Transport to Seili

M/S Norrskär
Turku-Seili 9.30–11.15
Seili-Turku 16.30–18.15

M/S Östern
Nauvo-Seili 12.10–12.40
Seili-Nauvo 17.25–17.55

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Baltic Sea greetings from Alf Norkko, the Baltic Sea professor

Author

Kirsi Kurki-Miettinen

Alf Norkko is a renowned marine researcher and Baltic Sea professor. He will now share with us how he ended up researching the seas, and bring us up to date on the Baltic Sea.

The journeys of a professor took him from the seas of the world to the shores of the Baltic Sea

As a young man, Alf Norkko felt a little lost, as do many people at that age. It was hard to pinpoint a particular field of interest. Chance intervened, and Norkko wound up at the university, studying biology. Trainee periods at a biological station and the Indian Ocean sparked a fire that has been burning until today: his passion for marine biology. The young, enthusiastic Ph.D. joined top research teams all the way in New Zealand and Antarctica, studying the impact climate change has on biodiversity and coastal habitats.

Nevertheless, he always felt the calling of the north and the Baltic Sea. The research conducted in the oceans had taught him a lot, and research questions were formulated in a similar manner, even though the problems faced by the seas were different. To be able to assess the speed of the change, it is important to do the groundwork in change monitoring. Changes in both Antarctica and the Baltic Sea have been extremely fast.

The most serious problems faced by the Baltic Sea impact organisms and ecosystems

For around ten years now, Norkko has been the scientific lead of the Tvärminne Zoological Station. According to Norkko, the sea in front of the research station is now doing better, partial recovery from eutrophication can be witnessed, and the area features some magnificent underwater nature. Location is a key factor for the clarity of water areas. The water in front of Hanko, for example, gets mixed more efficiently than the water in the Archipelago Sea. ”In terms of water turnover, the Baltic Sea is a bit like a poorly flushing toilet, which is why the problems accumulate in certain regions”, explains Norkko.

The severe problems of the Baltic Sea, i.e. eutrophication and climate change, are punishing to the sensitive ecosystems whose status is poor to begin with. It is as if the Baltic Sea were a member of a risk group: it already has many problems and ailments to tackle, and a new disease or symptom, such as rising temperatures, will weaken it further. The Tvärminne station has measured the temperature of the Sea already from the 1920s, or almost one hundred years. From the results, we can see that the rise in water temperature has accelerated, heat waves come more often, and they last longer. We can conclude that climate change makes the Baltic Sea’s other problems worse. In addition to rising temperatures, rainfall in mild winters brings more nutrients to coastal waters, making eutrophication even worse.

Important habitats in the throes of change

For many organisms and for the wellbeing of the Baltic Sea, important key species, such as bladderwrack, blue mussel, and common eelgrass, have been especially hit by the long-term temperature rise in shallow coastal waters. Unfortunately, the organisms in the shallow seabeds are not really monitored, so we do not know what is the combined impact of the various problems to the status of the ecosystem.

In addition to nutrients and temperature, ecosystems are impacted by the carbon cycle. As temperatures rise, production grows; this is known by every home gardener. As an example, Norkko highlights the familiar method of composting. If there is an excess of organic matter, but no organisms and plants – in the case of composting, earthworms – that would utilize the matter, the organic matter will accumulate, and, when decomposing, create methane, which is a greenhouse gas much stronger than carbon dioxide. This is how rising water temperatures accelerate climate change.

Cross-border research introduces new information on the Baltic Sea

Tvärminne is also the founder of CoastClim, a multi-disciplinary and international Centre for Coastal Ecosystem and Climate Research. CoastClim brings together researchers from various fields, allowing us to build a better view of all the factors that impact the Baltic Sea. In addition to traditional marine research, the project studies the atmosphere, nutrient cycles, the carbon cycle, and carbon sinks.

As climate change advances, it is increasingly important to understand where carbon is, in which form it is cycled, and how it impacts the ecosystems. We have, for example, noted that ecosystems that are off balance may release methane, in the case of coastal ecosystems all the way to the atmosphere, which obviously accelerates climate change even further. Carbon sinks in forests have been widely discussed, but would it be time now to turn our eyes underwater? The carbon cycles of large sections of Finnish coastline are still unfamiliar to us. The Sea has potential to be both a carbon sink and a carbon source, which is why it is important to study it further.

We need a wide selection of solutions to save the Baltic Sea

The Baltic Sea is saved by tackling, in particular, its severest problem, i.e. eutrophication. Naturally, climate change must be curbed also because of global problems, but locally, the Baltic Sea will benefit most from reductions in its nutrient load. In particular, discharges from non-point sources such as agriculture and forestry should be tackled with an array of different methods. In addition to methods with an immediate impact, such as gypsum treatment, we need change throughout society. Our agricultural policies should be changed to include biodiversity, so that farming could be more diverse, and take carbon cycles into account.

The role of forests must also not be underestimated: carbon, as well as nutrients, enters the waterways with runoff from drained forests. Finland is a country with exceptionally many drained areas, so we need to take action. Luckily, the same methods used by for example the John Nurminen Foundation’s VALVE project reduce the runoff of both nutrients and dissolved carbon.

Summer brings blue-green algal blooms and Baltic Sea celebrations

All friends of the Baltic Sea are of course interested in what the summer ahead looks like. Will there be blue-green algal blooms? Or will we be splashing about in clear waters? Unfortunately, professor Norkko does not have good news to tell us. If the summer is warm and not windy, we will see a lot of algal blooms. Nutrients in the Baltic Sea are in fact plentiful, and this boosts blue-green algae growth.

Fortunately, there are also causes for celebration! The Tvärminne Zoological Station has its 120th anniversary, and in honour of the event, you can learn more about the magnificence of underwater nature all through the summer. In addition to the summer events, early in the autumn, on 3rd September, you can learn more about marine research, as the Tvärminne research station opens its doors to the public.

In this year of festivities, the eyes of the Tvärminne station and professor Norkko look firmly to the future: we hope to see a cleaner and healthier Baltic Sea ahead!

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The peat sector introduces a new entrepreneurial approach to mowing coastal reeds – mowing aims to protect the Baltic Sea and biodiversity

More information

Eeva Tähtikarhu Project Manager, marine traffic

eeva.tahtikarhu@jnfoundation.fi +358 50 314 2102

Mowing coastal reeds can prevent nature loss, remove nutrients that cause the eutrophication of the Baltic Sea and produce climate-friendly raw materials to replace peat in applications such as growing media, including garden soil products. It is hoped that machine entrepreneurs and processors from the peat sector will bring a new entrepreneurial approach to the business.

The spread of reeds on Finland’s marine coasts has been strong in recent decades – there is more than enough to mow to provide plenty of raw materials for further processing. The John Nurminen Foundation seeks to accelerate the utilisation of the common reed and the emergence of a market for reeds with the Coastal Reed Project. The project brings together parties that engage in mowing and processing companies interested in utilising the common reed.

To start up the utilisation of reeds, both mowing entrepreneurs and reed processors are needed in the sector. Reeds can be mown with machines designed for use on soft ground – like those used in peat production.

“This year, we’ve been delighted to see that new entrepreneurs have entered this business from the peat sector. Processors are also increasingly interested in utilising reed material,” says Eeva Tähtikarhu, Project Manager of the Coastal Reed Project.

Companies such as Biolan Oy, Kekkilä Oy and Kiteen Mato ja Multa Oy are testing out the utilisation of reeds mowed in the John Nurminen Foundation’s Coastal Reed Project in their soil products.

“We’re proactively researching a variety of raw materials suitable for growing media. We’re especially interested in rapidly renewable and circular economy materials. It’s especially important to ensure the good quality, purity and safety of growing media materials. We’re constantly acquiring research data on different raw materials,” says Sales & Development Manager Toni Luoma from Kekkilä.

Mowing and utilisation of the common reed can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“The common reed can replace raw materials that have an adverse climate impact. Mowing might also reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of reeds. However, the climate impacts of mowing haven’t been researched comprehensively yet and the phenomenon is poorly understood,” says Tanja Myllyviita, Senior Research Scientist at the Finnish Environment Institute.

Utilisation of reed material can help the Baltic Sea

Mowing and collecting the common reed for utilisation can reduce the eutrophication of shores, as the reed biomass contains a substantial amount of nutrients that cause eutrophication in the Baltic Sea.

“Mowing and collecting reeds that grow in water is the only method apart from management fishing that has been proven to be a cost-effective way of removing nitrogen and phosphorus from the Baltic Sea,” says Miina Mäki, environmental expert at the John Nurminen Foundation. “In addition to nutrient removal, mowing can at its best also be beneficial to diversity, heritage landscapes and the recreational use of shorelines in many other ways.”

The challenge is that the collection of reed mass substantially increases the cost of mowing – for this reason, reeds are often crushed at the growth site without being collected. “This leads to a loss of good raw materials and the nutrients contained in the reeds are released back into the coastal waters. There is emerging demand for reeds. We hope that in future, the market will set a price that covers the costs of mowing and collection,” says Mäki.

As a sustainable and market-based system is still being established, this work has been partly carried out with donated funds. For instance, Ålandsbanken, one of the John Nurminen Foundation’s main partners, is involved in making the Coastal Reed Project possible alongside the Foundation’s other protection projects.

“The protection of the Baltic Sea is the responsibility of all of us and companies have a significant role to play in enabling the necessary measures. The Ålandsbanken’s Baltic Sea project is a good example of this, and over the years we have already supported environmental projects with more than three million euros,” says Anne-Maria Salonius, Head of Finland Division at Ålandsbanken Abp.

Mowing prevents nature loss

The restoration of coastal meadows overgrown with reeds supports biodiversity first and foremost.

“Many species and habitats in open coastal areas have become endangered – the removal of reed growths helps these species,” says William Velmala, Waterfowl Habitats Coordinator at the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Uusimaa.

The planning of mowing also takes into account the species living in the reeds, the diversity of the reed environment and the ability of the reeds to bind nutrients in the bottom sediment. As part of the Coastal Reed Project, the John Nurminen Foundation has compiled ground rules for the sustainable utilisation of coastal reeds. These ground rules will be helpful to all those interested in mowing and utilising reeds. They can be read on the John Nurminen Foundation’s site.

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John Nurminen Foundation – Baltic Sea protection and marine culture
Founded in 1992, the purpose of the John Nurminen Foundation is to save the Baltic Sea and its heritage for future generations. The Foundation is an award-winning communicator of information and producer of marine cultural content. The goal of the Foundation’s Clean Baltic Sea projects is to improve the condition of the Baltic Sea with tangible measures that will reduce the load and environmental risks directed at the sea. Our work is steered by measurable results and impact.

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New guidelines for reducing nutrient emissions in ports in the Baltic Sea are completed – implementation would almost entirely eliminate nutrient emissions from ports

More Information

Juulia Suikula

Project Manager, marine traffic

juulia.suikula@jnfoundation.fi +358 50 360 4858

Guidelines on the best techniques and working practices that can be used in ports to minimize nutrient discharges into the Baltic Sea are on their way to becoming an international recommendation by the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission HELCOM. The guidelines prepared under the leadership of the John Nurminen Foundation contain dozens of recommendations for, among other things, the loading of fertilizers and personnel training.

In the Baltic Sea fertilizer ports, a significant amount of fertilizer loss is generated each year, contributing to the eutrophication of the sea. Research results collected in the Fertilizer Shipping Project of the John Nurminen Foundation show that hundreds of kilograms of phosphorus and hundreds of tons of nitrogen can enter the sea from busy fertilizer ports every year through stormwater alone. This load corresponds to a nutrient load from wastewater treatment plants of a medium-sized city.

To reduce nutrient emissions from ports, experts from the John Nurminen Foundation, Race for the Baltic, and Coalition Clean Baltic have developed new guidelines. These BET/BEP guidelines encompass 67 measures that implement best available technology (BAT) and best environmental practices (BEP) aimed at minimizing fertilizer loss during storage, handling, and transportation.

“The guidelines offer ports, operators, shipping companies and other operators involved in fertilizer shipping, as well as authorities and politicians, concrete tools to prevent fertilizer emissions. The goal is to improve the control of emissions and to instill sustainable operating methods in the daily practices of operators,” says Juulia Suikula, project manager of maritime transport projects at the John Nurminen Foundation.

The guidelines are based on a combination of information, literature, and interviews with international maritime transport operators in the Baltic Sea, collected through the foundation’s own project and sourced from partners. For the document, comments were collected from Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Poland and Lithuania. The John Nurminen Foundation has been responsible for the preparation of the guidelines with the help of the consulting firm CE Delft.

A possibility to reduce emissions to nearly zero

As a result of the work that began in 2019, many solutions to reduce fertilizer loss and nutrient load have been found. The solutions are concrete, starting with loading practices and cleaning the loading area. Developing the skills of port operators and the efficiency of public authorities were also found effective.

The solutions presented in the guidelines include, e.g., regular maintenance of loading buckets, a closed loading system, covering of stormwater wells, use of protection between the ship and the berth, regular and efficient cleaning of berth and storage areas, training of personnel, monitoring of stormwater nutrient concentrations, and investments in stormwater collection and cleaning systems.

The guideline is on its way to become an official recommendation of HELCOM during the next year, and it will also be used to implement the Commission’s Baltic Sea Action Plan (Baltic Sea Action Plan).

“According to preliminary estimates, ports can reduce their nutrient emissions by up to half by implementing a few guidelines. Even with small investments, significant emission reductions can be achieved inexpensively, and the guidelines detail the cost-effectiveness of different measures. By implementing all the recommendations, it is possible to eliminate fertilizer emissions almost completely,” Suikula sums up.

With the adoption of the recommendation, HELCOM member states should report to the Commission on the national implementation of the guidelines every four years, starting in 2027.

See the Guidelines

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