Ethical Guidelines for Journal Publication
Publishing an article in the scientific journal “Aquaculture and Fishing” directly reflects the quality of the authors’ work and the institutions supporting them. Peer-reviewed articles support and embody the scientific method. Institute of Research and Development for Aquatic Ecology, Fishing, and Aquaculture, as the editor of the journal, takes on the responsibilities of oversight at all stages of publication and acknowledges its ethical responsibilities and other obligations. We are committed to ensuring that advertising, republication, or any other commercial revenues do not impact or influence editorial decisions. In general, scientific materials are published without fees.
Responsibilities of Authors
Authors must present original research, and the underlying data should be accurately represented in the paper. A manuscript should contain sufficient details and references to allow others to replicate the work. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behavior and are unacceptable.
Data Access and Retention
Authors may be asked to provide raw data related to a paper for editorial review and should be prepared to provide public access to such data, if possible, and to retain such data for a reasonable time after publication.
Originality and Plagiarism
Authors should ensure that they have written entirely original works, and if they have used the work and/or words of others, these should be appropriately cited. Plagiarism in all its forms constitutes unethical publishing behavior and is unacceptable.
Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication
Submitting the same work to multiple journals simultaneously constitutes unethical publishing behavior and is unacceptable. In general, an author should not submit a previously published paper for consideration in another journal. The publication of certain types of articles (e.g., guidelines, translations) in more than one journal is sometimes justified only if certain conditions are met. The authors and editors of the respective journals must agree to the secondary publication, which must reflect the same data and interpretations of the primary document. The primary reference must be cited in the secondary publication.
Acknowledgment of Sources
Authors should cite publications that have been influential in determining the nature of the reported work. Information obtained privately, in conversations, correspondence, or discussions with third parties, must not be used or reported without explicit, written permission from the source. Information obtained in the course of confidential services, such as refereeing manuscripts or grant applications, must not be used without the explicit written permission of the author of the work involved in these services.
Authorship of the Paper
All those who have made significant contributions should be listed as co-authors. Where there are others who have participated in certain substantive aspects of the research project, they should be acknowledged or listed as contributors. The corresponding author should ensure that all appropriate co-authors and no inappropriate co-authors are included in the paper, and that all coauthors have seen and approved the final version of the paper and have agreed to its submission for publication.
Hazards and Human or Animal Subjects
If the work involves chemicals, procedures, or equipment that have unusual hazards inherent in their use, the author must clearly identify these in the manuscript. If the work involves the use of human or animal subjects, the author should ensure that all procedures have been carried out in compliance with relevant laws and institutional guidelines and that the relevant institutional committees have approved them. The privacy rights of human subjects must always be respected.
Conflicts of Interest
All authors should disclose in their manuscript any financial or other substantive conflict of interest that might be construed to influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript. All sources of financial support for the project should be disclosed. Examples of potential conflicts of interest that should be disclosed include employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony, patent applications/registrations, and grants or other funding. Potential conflicts of interest should be disclosed at the earliest stage possible.
Errors in Published Works
If a significant error or inaccuracy in their own published work is discovered, it is the author’s obligation to promptly notify the journal editor or publisher and cooperate with the editor to retract or correct the paper. If the editor or publisher learns from a third party that a published work contains a significant error, it is the obligation of the author to retract or correct the paper promptly or to provide evidence to the editor regarding the correctness of the original paper.
Publication Decisions
The editor of a journal is responsible for the decision to publish articles submitted to the journal. Validation of the work rests solely with the Editorial Board. Other reviewers may be consulted in making decisions.
Non-Discriminatory Treatment
Manuscripts are evaluated based on their intellectual content without regard to the race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy of the authors.
Confidentiality
Information about a submitted manuscript will not be disclosed to anyone, except for the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, other editorial advisors, and the publisher, as appropriate.
Cooperation in Investigations
When ethical complaints are raised regarding a submitted manuscript or published paper, measures will be taken. These generally include contacting the author of the manuscript or paper and considering the respective complaint or claims made, but may also include further communications with relevant institutions and research bodies, and if the complaint is upheld, the publication of a correction, retraction, expression of concern, or other note as may be relevant. Each reported act of unethical publishing behavior must be investigated, even if discovered years after publication.
Responsibilities of Reviewers
Contribution to Editorial Decisions
Peer review assists the editor in making editorial decisions and may also help the author improve the paper through editorial communications. Peer review is an essential component of formal scholarly communication.
Promptness and Confidentiality
Any referee who feels unqualified to review a manuscript or knows that prompt review will be impossible should notify the editor and excuse themselves from the review process. Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. They must not be shown to or discussed with others except as authorized by the editor.
Standards of Objectivity
Reviews should be conducted objectively. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate. Reviewers should express their views clearly with supporting arguments.
Acknowledgment of Sources
Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors. Any statement that an observation, derivation, or argument was previously reported should be accompanied by the relevant citation. A reviewer should also bring to the editor’s attention any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under consideration and any other published paper of which they have personal knowledge.
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used in a reviewer’s own research without the express written consent of the author. Privileged information or ideas obtained through peer review must be kept confidential and not used for personal advantage. Reviewers should not consider manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with any of the authors, companies, or institutions connected to the papers.