Ethics

Publication ethics

Journal of Marine Studies (JoMS) is a journal that aims to be a leading peer-reviewed platform and an authoritative source of information. We publish original research articles, opinion essays, case reports, short communications, and critical reviews focused on marine sciences, as well as related topics that have neither been published elsewhere in any language nor are under review for publication anywhere. This following statement clarifies the ethical behaviour of all parties involved in the act of publishing an article in this journal, including the author, the editor, the reviewer, and the publisher. This statement is based on COPE’s Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

1.  Duties of authors

• Reporting standards. Authors should present an accurate account of the original research performed as well as an objective discussion of its significance. Researchers should present their results honestly and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation. A manuscript should contain sufficient detail and references to permit others to replicate the work. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behaviour and are unacceptable. Manuscripts should follow the submission guidelines of the journal.

• Originality and plagiarism. Authors must ensure that they have written entirely original work. The manuscript should not be submitted concurrently to more than one publication unless the editors have agreed to co-publication. Relevant previous work and publications, both by other researchers and the authors’ own, should be properly acknowledged and referenced. The primary literature should be cited where possible. Original wording taken directly from publications by other researchers should appear in quotation marks with the appropriate citations.

• Multiple, redundant, or concurrent publications. The author should not, in general, submit the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently. It is also expected that the author will not publish redundant manuscripts or manuscripts describing the same research in more than one journal. Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently constitutes unethical publishing behaviour and is unacceptable. Multiple publications arising from a single research project should be clearly identified as such, and the primary publication should be referenced

• Acknowledgment of sources. Authors should acknowledge all sources of data used in the research and cite publications that have been influential in determining the nature of the reported work. Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must always be given.

• Authorship of the paper. The authorship of research publications should accurately reflect individuals’ contributions to the work and its reporting. Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study. Others who have made significant contributions must be listed as co-authors, in cases where major contributors are listed as authors, while those who made less substantial, or purely technical, contributions to the research or to the publication are listed in an acknowledgment section. Authors also ensure that all the authors have seen and agreed to the submitted version of the manuscript and their inclusion of names as co-authors.

• Disclosure and conflicts of interest. All authors should clearly disclose in their manuscript any financial or other substantive conflicts 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.

• Fundamental errors in published works. If the author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in the submitted manuscript, then the author should promptly notify the journal editor or publisher and cooperate with the editor to retract or correct the paper.

• Hazards and human or animal subjects. The author should clearly identify in the manuscript if the work involves chemicals, procedures or equipment that have any unusual hazards inherent in their use.

2.  Duties of editor

• Publication decisions. Based on the review report of the editorial board, the editor can accept, reject, or request modifications to the manuscript. The validation of the work in question and its importance to researchers and readers must always drive such decisions. The editors may be guided by the policies of the journal's editorial board and constrained by such legal requirements as shall then be in force regarding libel, copyright infringement, and plagiarism. The editors may confer with other editors or reviewers when making this decision. Editors have to take responsibility for everything they publish and should have procedures and policies in place to ensure the quality of the material they publish and maintain the integrity of the published record.

• Review of manuscript. The editor must ensure that each manuscript is initially evaluated by the editor for originality. The editor should organize and use peer review fairly and wisely. Editors should explain their peer review processes in the information for authors and also indicate which parts of the journal are peer-reviewed. The editor should use appropriate peer reviewers for papers that are considered for publication by selecting people with sufficient expertise and avoiding those with conflicts of interest.

• Fair play. The editor must ensure that each manuscript received by the journal is reviewed for its intellectual content without regard to the sex, gender, race, religion, citizenship, etc., of the authors. An important part of the responsibility to make fair and unbiased decisions is the upholding of the principle of editorial independence and integrity. Editors are in a powerful position by making decisions on publications, which makes it very important that this process is as fair and unbiased as possible.

• Confidentiality. The editor must ensure that information regarding manuscripts submitted by the authors is kept confidential. Editors should critically assess any potential breaches of data protection and patient confidentiality. This includes requiring properly informed consent for the actual research presented and consent for publication where applicable.

• Disclosure and conflicts of interest. The editor of the Journal will not use unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript for his own research without the written consent of the author. Editors should not be involved in decisions about papers in which they have a conflict of interest.

3.  Duties of reviewers

• Confidentiality. Information regarding manuscripts submitted by authors should be kept confidential and be treated as privileged information. They must not be shown to or discussed with others except as authorized by the editor.

• Acknowledgment of sources. Reviewers must ensure that authors have acknowledged all sources of data used in the research. Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors. Any statement that an observation, derivation, or argument had been previously reported should be accompanied by the relevant citation. The reviewers should notify the journal immediately if they come across any irregularities, have concerns about ethical aspects of the work, are aware of substantial similarity between the manuscript and a concurrent submission to another journal or a published article, or suspect that misconduct may have occurred during either the research or the writing and submission of the manuscript; reviewers should, however, keep their concerns confidential and not personally investigate further unless the journal asks for further information or advice.

• Standards of objectivity. The review of submitted manuscripts must be done objectively, and the reviewers should express their views clearly and provide supporting arguments. The reviewers should follow journals’ instructions on the specific feedback that is required of them, unless there are good reasons not to. The reviewers should be constructive in their reviews and provide feedback that will help the authors to improve their manuscript. The reviewer should make clear which suggested additional investigations are essential to support claims made in the manuscript under consideration and which will just strengthen or extend the work.

• Disclosure and conflict of interest. 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 or connections with any of the authors, companies, or institutions connected to the papers. In the case of double-blind review, if they suspect the identity of the author(s), notify the journal if this knowledge raises any potential conflict of interest.

• Promptness. The reviewers should respond in a reasonable time-frame. The reviewers only agree to review a manuscript if they are fairly confident they can return a review within the proposed or mutually agreed time-frame, informing the journal promptly if they require an extension. In the event that a reviewer feels it is not possible for him/her to complete a review of the manuscript within the stipulated time, then this information must be communicated to the editor so that the manuscript can be sent to another reviewer.

Ethics of using animals or life forms in research

As authors submitting research involving animals or living organisms, you are expected to adhere to the highest ethical standards in the design, conduct, and reporting of your research. The following guidelines outline the ethical considerations that must be followed to ensure the welfare of the animals and the integrity of the research:

• Compliance with laws and regulations. All research involving animals or life forms must comply with relevant local, national, and international laws and regulations. Authors should be familiar with and follow the guidelines set forth by regulatory bodies in their countries.

• Ethical approval: Prior to commencing any research involving animals or living organisms, authors must obtain appropriate ethical approval from an ethical review board. Ethical approval documentation should be provided upon submission of the manuscript.

• Justification for animal use. Authors must provide a clear justification for the use of animals or life forms in their research, including the scientific necessity of the study and the expected benefits. Studies involving animal research should aim to minimize harm and discomfort to the animals and explore alternatives whenever possible.

• Humane treatment. All animals involved in research must be treated humanely and with respect. Researchers should ensure that housing, care, and handling conditions meet or exceed established standards. Procedures that may cause pain or distress should be minimized, and appropriate pain relief methods should be employed when necessary.

• Replacement, reduction, and refinement (3rs). Authors are encouraged to apply the principles of:

  • Replacement: Use alternative methods or models instead of animals whenever possible.

  • Reduction: Use the minimum number of animals necessary to achieve valid scientific results.

  • Refinement: modify procedures to minimize pain, suffering, or distress, and improve animal welfare.

• Reporting results. When reporting research results, authors should include a detailed account of how animals were used, including species, numbers, and care conditions. Any adverse events or issues related to animal welfare must be transparently reported in the manuscript.

• Transparency and reproducibility. Authors should ensure that all aspects of their research involving animals are conducted transparently and can be replicated. This includes providing detailed methodologies and protocols in the manuscript. Data sharing and the availability of information regarding the animals used in the research are encouraged to promote reproducibility.

• Declaration of conflicts of interest. Authors must declare any potential conflicts of interest related to the use of animals in their research, including funding sources or affiliations that may influence the study's outcomes.