Ethical Guidelines for Editing, Publishing, and Science Communication in Fisheries Modernization

Fisheries Modernization has established the following Publication Ethics Guidelines to enhance the quality of academic papers, uphold research integrity and academic ethics. These guidelines are formulated in accordance with relevant documents and standards, including:

·        Several Opinions on Further Strengthening the Construction of Research Integrity

·        Academic Publishing Standards—Definitions of Academic Misconduct in Journals (CY/T 174—2019)

·        Statement on Promoting Research Integrity and Ethical Standards in Academic Publishing by the Chinese Society of Scientific and Technical Journal Editors (CSSTJE)

·        Guidelines issued by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)

All authors, editors, and reviewers affiliated with this journal are required to strictly adhere to these ethical principles.

I. Responsibilities of Authors

1. Authorship
Only those who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research (including conceptualization, data acquisition/analysis, writing, or critical revision of the manuscript) are eligible to be listed as authors. Authorship must reflect the order of contribution, and no changes to the author list are permitted after manuscript acceptance. Adding or removing authors without justification, including non-contributors (e.g., "gift authorship"), or listing individuals without their consent is strictly prohibited. Contributors who provided non-substantive support (e.g., technical assistance) may be acknowledged in the "Acknowledgments" section with their consent.

2. Original Submission
Submitted manuscripts must be unpublished and not under consideration elsewhere. The work should demonstrate novelty in at least one of the following aspects: new findings, materials, data, perspectives, methodologies, or theoretical frameworks. Upon acceptance, the manuscript will be published as the first and only version in Fisheries Modernization.

3. Originality and Intellectual Property
Authors must ensure the manuscript is original, free from copyright infringement, and contains no confidential information. Data must be presented objectively without falsification, fabrication, or exaggeration. All third-party content (text, figures, etc.) must be properly cited. Submitted manuscripts will be screened using the CNKI Academic Misconduct Literature Check System (AMLC). Manuscripts with a text similarity index exceeding 15% will be subject to further investigation.

4. Prohibition of Misconduct
Authors must avoid all forms of academic misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, data manipulation, duplicate submission). False funding information or biased reviewer recommendations are prohibited. Interfering with the peer review process is strictly forbidden.

5. Ethical Compliance
For studies involving human or animal subjects:

·        Clearly state the source of experimental animals and obtain informed consent from human participants.

·        Provide the name and approval number of the ethics review committee overseeing the study.

·        Declare any potential hazards (e.g., toxic chemicals, explosive materials) in the manuscript.

6. Revisions and Appeals
Authors must revise manuscripts in accordance with the journal’s formatting guidelines and reviewer/editor feedback. Objections to reviewer comments must be supported by evidence and submitted to the editorial office for reevaluation.

7. Copyright Transfer
Authors must sign the Fisheries Modernization Copyright Transfer Agreement, granting the journal exclusive rights to edit, modify, and disseminate the work. 

8. Corrections and Retractions
Authors must verify manuscript accuracy prior to publication. Post-publication errors or major issues require immediate notification to the editorial office for corrections or retractions.

II. Responsibilities of Editors

1. Compliance and Fairness
Adhere to national journal management policies and enforce "three rounds of review and proofreading" (三审三校). Evaluate manuscripts based on academic merit and practical relevance.

2. Peer Review Management

·        Implement double-blind peer review.

·        Select reviewers with relevant expertise and no conflicts of interest.

·        Consider but critically assess author-recommended reviewers; respect requests to exclude specific reviewers.

3. Timely Communication
Process submissions promptly, provide complete and accurate reviewer feedback, and clearly communicate editorial decisions (acceptance, revision, or rejection).

4. Confidentiality
Maintain confidentiality of manuscripts and review details. Unpublished content may not be used without author consent.

5. Impartiality
Avoid personal bias. Allow authors to appeal decisions and initiate re-evaluation with additional experts if warranted.

6. Quality Enhancement
Assist authors in improving language, formatting, and compliance with journal standards to expedite publication.

7. Post-Publication Corrections
Promptly issue errata or retraction notices for published articles with errors or misconduct, notify databases, and disclose reasons publicly.

III. Responsibilities of Reviewers

1. Acceptance and Timeliness
Accept or decline review invitations promptly. Recommend alternative experts if unqualified or unable to meet deadlines. Report ethical concerns immediately.

2. Confidentiality
Do not disclose manuscript content, data, or conclusions. Avoid conflicts of interest (e.g., personal, financial, or collaborative ties to authors).

3. Objectivity and Rigor
Evaluate manuscripts fairly based on originality, scientific validity, clarity, and relevance. Provide constructive feedback with supporting evidence.

4. Ethical Vigilance
Identify potential misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, data fabrication, duplicate submission) and alert the editor.

5. Citation Integrity
Do not pressure authors to cite your work or that of colleagues. Avoid biased criticism.

6. Intellectual Property
Do not use unpublished manuscript content in your own research without permission.

IV. Handling Academic Misconduct

1. Pre-Publication
Manuscripts with confirmed misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, data fraud, duplicate submission) will be rejected, and authors will receive a formal warning.

2. Post-Publication

·        Retract the paper, issue a retraction notice, and notify relevant databases.

·        Inform the author’s institution and demand a public apology.

·        Reserve the right to seek compensation for reputational damage.

3. Penalties
Authors involved in misconduct will be barred from submitting to Fisheries Modernization for 5 years.