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FISHERIES RESEARCH
An International Journal on Fisheries Science, Fishing Technology and Fisheries Management

Guide for Authors

This journal provides an international forum for the publication of papers in the areas of fisheries science, fishing technology, fisheries management and relevant socio-economics. The scope covers fisheries in salt, brackish and freshwater systems, and all aspects of associated ecology, environment and pollution issues, and economics. Both theoretical and practical papers are acceptable, including laboratory and field experimental studies relevant to fisheries. Papers on the conservation of exploitable living resources are welcome. Review and Viewpoint articles are also published. As the specified areas inevitably impinge on and interrelate with each other, the approach of the journal is multidisciplinary, and authors are encouraged to emphasise the relevance of their own work to that of other disciplines. The journal is intended for fisheries scientists, biological oceanographers, gear technologists, economists, managers, administrators, policy makers and legislators.

Types of contribution

1. Original research papers (Regular Papers)
2. Review articles
3. Viewpoints
4. Short Communications
5. Technical Notes
6. Letters to the Editor
7. Book Reviews
8. Conference Reports

Regular papers should report the results of original research. The material should not have been previously published elsewhere, except in a preliminary form.
Review articles should cover subjects falling within the scope of the journal which are of active current interest. They may be submitted or invited.
Viewpoint contributions provide an opportunity to offer a personal perspective on topical issues relevant to the interests of the Journal.
A Short Communication is a concise but complete description of a limited investigation, which will not be included in a later paper. Short Communications should be as completely documented, both by reference to the literature and description of the experimental procedures employed, as a regular paper. They should not occupy more than 6 printed pages (about 12 manuscript pages, including figures, tables and references).
Conference Reports provide an analytical review of the significant outcomes of important conferences. They may be submitted by conference associates or solicited by the Editor-in-Chief.
Technical Notes should be brief descriptions of experimental procedures, technical operations or applied activities within laboratories or in the field.
Letters to the Editor offering comment or appropriate critique on material published in the journal are welcomed. The decision to publish submitted letters rests purely with the Editor-in-Chief.
Book Reviews are included in the journal on a range of relevant books which are not more than 2 years old. Book reviews will be solicited by the Book Review Editor. Other publications read will be listed. Unsolicited reviews will not usually be accepted, but suggestions for appropriate books for review may be sent to the Book Review Editor:

A.D. McIntyre
Emeritus Professor of Fisheries and Oceanography
Zoology Department
University of Aberdeen
Aberdeen, AB9 2TN
UK
E-mail: a.d.mcintyre@abdn.ac.uk

Submission of manuscripts

Submission of an article is understood to imply that the article is original and is not being considered for publication elsewhere. Submission also implies that all authors have approved the paper for release and are in agreement with its content. Upon acceptance of the article by the journal, the author(s) will be asked to transfer the copyright of the article to the publisher. This transfer will ensure the widest possible dissemination of information.

Electronic manuscripts

Submission to this journal proceeds totally on-line. Please use the following guidelines to prepare your article. Via External link http://ees.elsevier.com/fish you will be guided stepwise through the creation and uploading of the various files. Once the uploading is done, our system automatically generates an electronic (PDF) proof, which is then used for reviewing. It is crucial that all graphical elements be uploaded in separate files, so that the PDF is suitable for reviewing. Authors can upload their article as a LaTex, Microsoft (MS) Word, WordPerfect, PostScript or Adobe Acrobat PDF document. All correspondence, including notification of the Editor's decision and requests for revisions, will be by e-mail.

Electronic format requirements for accepted articles

We accept most wordprocessing formats, but Word, WordPerfect or LaTeX is preferred. Always keep a backup copy of the electronic file for reference and safety. Save your files using the default extension of the program used.

Wordprocessor documents

It is important that the file be saved in the native format of the wordprocessor used. The text should be in single-column format. Keep the layout of the text as simple as possible. Most formatting codes will be removed and replaced on processing the article. In particular, do not use the wordprocessor's options to justify text or to hyphenate words. However, do use bold face, italics, subscripts, superscripts etc. Do not embed 'graphically designed' equations or tables, but prepare these using the wordprocessor's facility. When preparing tables, if you are using a table grid, use only one grid for each individual table and not a grid for each row. If no grid is used, use tabs, not spaces, to align columns. The electronic text should be prepared in a way very similar to that of conventional manuscripts (see also External link http://www.elsevier.com/locate/guidepublication). Do not import the figures into the text file but, instead, indicate their approximate locations directly in the electronic text and on the manuscript. See also External link http://www.elsevier.com/artworkinstructions.

To avoid unnecessary errors you are strongly advised to use the 'spellchecker' function of your wordprocessor.

LaTeX documents

If the LaTeX file is suitable, proofs will be produced without rekeying the text. The article should preferably be written using Elsevier's document class "elsart", or alternatively the standard document class "article", The Elsevier LaTeX package (including detailed instructions for LaTeX preparation) can be obtained from the Quickguide: External link http://www.elsevier.com/latex. It consists of the files: elsart.cls, guidelines for users of elsart, a template file for quick start and the instruction booklet "Preparing articles with LaTeX.

Preparation of manuscripts

1. Manuscripts should be written in clear and grammatical English. Authors whose native language is not English are strongly advised to have their manuscripts checked by an English-speaking colleague prior to submission. For more information about language editing and copyediting services please visit External link http://www.elsevier.com/locate/languagepolishing or contact authorsupport@elsevier.com
2. Manuscripts should be prepared with numbered lines, with wide margins and double spacing throughout, i.e. also for abstracts, footnotes and references. Every page of the manuscript, including the title page, references, tables, etc. should be numbered. However, in the text no reference should be made to page numbers; if necessary, one may refer to sections. Underline words that should be in italics, and do not underline any other words. Avoid excessive use of italics to emphasize part of the text.
3. Manuscripts in general should be organized in the following order:
Title (should be clear, descriptive and not too long)
Name(s) of author(s)
Complete postal address(es) of affiliations
Full telephone, Fax. no. and E-mail of the corresponding author
Present address(es) of author(s) if applicable
Complete correspondence address to which the proofs should be sent
Abstract
Key words (indexing terms), normally 3-6 items
Introduction
Material studied, area descriptions, methods, techniques
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Acknowledgements and any additional information concerning research grants, etc.
References
Tables
Figure captions
4. In typing the manuscript, titles and subtitles should not be run within the text. They should be typed on a separate line, without indentation. Use lower-case lettertype.
5. Units and abbreviations
In principle SI units should be used except where they conflict with current practise or are confusing. Other equivalent units may be given in parentheses.
6. Units and their abbreviations should be those approved by ISO (International Standard 1000:92
7. SI units and recommendations for the use of their multiples and of certain other units). Abbreviate units of measure only when used with numerals.
8. If a special instruction to the copy editor or typesetter is written on the copy it should be encircled. The typesetter will then know that the enclosed matter is not to be set in type. When a typewritten character may have more than one meaning (e.g. the lower case letter l may be confused with the numeral 1), a note should be inserted in a circle in the margin to make the meaning clear to the typesetter. If Greek letters or uncommon symbols are used in the manuscript, they should be written very clearly, and if necessary a note such as "Greek lower-case chi" should be put in the margin and encircled.
9. Elsevier reserves the privilege of returning to the author for revision accepted manuscripts and illustrations which are not in the proper form given in this guide.

Abstracts

The abstract should be clear, descriptive and not longer than 400 words.

References

1. All publications cited in the text should be presented in a list of references following the text of the manuscript. The manuscript should be carefully checked to ensure that the spelling of author's names and dates are exactly the same in the text as in the reference list. It is particularly important to check that all References in the text are present in the List, and vice versa.
2. In the text refer to the author's name (without initial) and year of publication, followed if necessary by a short reference to appropriate pages. Examples: "Since Peterson (1988) has shown that..." "This is in agreement with results obtained later (Kramer, 1989, pp. 12-16)".
3. If reference is made in the text to a publication written by more than two authors the name of the first author should be used followed by "et al.". This indication, however, should never be used in the list of references. In this list names of first author and co-authors should be mentioned.
4. References cited together in the text should be arranged chronologically. The list of references should be arranged alphabetically on authors' names, and chronologically per author. If an author's name in the list is also mentioned with co-authors the following order should be used: publications of the single author, arranged according to publication dates - publications of the same author with one co-author - publications of the author with more than one co-author. Publications by the same author(s) in the same year should be listed as 1994a, 1994b, etc.
5. Use the following system for arranging your references:
a. For periodicals
Stewart, D.A., Agnew, D., Boyd, R., Briggs, R., Toland, P., 1993. The derivation of changes in Nephrops per unit effort values for the Northern Ireland fishing fleet. Fish. Res. 17, 273-292.
b. For edited symposia, special issues, etc. published in a periodical Roberts, R.J., 1993. Ulcerative dermal necrosis (UDN) in wild salmonids. In: Bruno, D.W. (Ed.), Pathological conditions of wild salmonids. Fish. Res. 17, 3 14.
c. For books
Gaugh, Jr., H.G., 1992. Statistical Analysis of Regional Yield Trials. Elsevier, Amsterdam.
d. For multi-author books
Bucke, D., 1989. Histology. In: Austin, B., Austin, D.A. (Eds.), Methods for the Microbiological Examination of Fish and Shellfish. Wiley, New York, pp. 69-97.
6. Abbreviate the titles of periodicals mentioned in the list of references according to the International List of Periodical Title Word Abbreviations.
7. In the case of publications in any language other than English, the original title is to be retained. However, the titles of publications in non-Latin alphabets should be transliterated, and a notation such as "(in Russian)" or "(in Greek, with English abstract)" should be added.
8. Work accepted for publication but not yet published should be referred to as "in press".
9. References concerning unpublished data and "personal communications" should not be cited in the reference list but may be mentioned in the text.

Use of the Digital Object Identifier

The digital object identifier (DOI) may be used to cite and link to electronic documents. The DOI consists of a unique alpha-numeric character string which is assigned to a document by the publisher upon the initial electronic publication. The assigned DOI never changes. Therefore, it is an ideal medium for citing a document, particularly "Articles in press" because they have not yet received their full bibliographic information. The correct format for citing a DOI is shown as follows (example taken from a document in the journal Physics Letters B):
doi:10.1016/j.physletb.2003.10.071
When you use the DOI to create URL hyperlinks to documents on the web, they are guaranteed never to change. However, please check the DOI very carefully as an error in a letter or number will result in a dead link.

Formulae

1. Formulae should be typewritten, if possible. Leave ample space around the formulae.
2. Subscripts and superscripts should be clear.
3. Greek letters and other non-Latin symbols should be explained in the margin where they are first used. Take special care to show clearly the difference between zero (0) and the letter O, and between one (1) and the letter l.
4. Give the meaning of all symbols immediately after the equation in which they are first used.
5. For simple fractions use the solidus (/) instead of a horizontal line.
6. Equations should be numbered serially at the right-hand side in parentheses. In general only equations explicitly referred to in the text need be numbered.
7. The use of fractional powers instead of root signs is recommended. Also powers of e are often more conveniently denoted by exp.
8. Levels of statistical significance which can be mentioned without further explanation are *P<0.05, **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001.
9. In chemical formulae, valence of ions should be given as, e.g., Ca2+ and not as Ca++.
10. Isotope numbers should precede the symbols, e.g., 18O.
11. The repeated writing of chemical formulae in the text is to be avoided where reasonably possible; instead, the name of the compound should be given in full. Exceptions may be made in the case of a very long name occurring very frequently or in the case of a compound being described as the end product of a gravimetric determination (e.g., phosphate as P2O5).

Footnotes

1. Footnotes should be used only if absolutely essential. In most cases it should be possible to incorporate the information in normal text.
2. If used, they should be numbered in the text, indicated by superscript numbers, and kept as short as possible.

Nomenclature

1. Authors and Editors are, by general agreement, obliged to accept the rules governing biological nomenclature, as laid down in the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, the International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria, and the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.
2. All biotica (crops, plants, insects, birds, mammals, etc.) should be identified by their scientific names when the English term is first used, with the exception of common domestic animals.
3. All biocides and other organic compounds must be identified by their Geneva names when first used in the text. Active ingredients of all formulations should be likewise identified.
4. For chemical nomenclature, the conventions of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry and the official recommendations of the IUPAC IUB Combined Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature should be followed.

Preparation of electronic illustrations

General

1. Make sure you use uniform lettering and sizing of your original artwork.
2. Save text in illustrations as "graphics" or enclose the font.
3. Only use the following fonts in your illustrations: Arial, Courier, Helvetica, Times, Symbol.
4. Number the illustrations according to their sequence in the text.
5. Use a logical naming convention for your artwork files.
6. Provide all illustrations as separate files.
7. Provide captions to illustrations separately.
8. Produce images near to the desired size of the printed version.

A detailed guide on electronic artwork is available on our website: External link http://elsevier.com/artworkinstructions. Some excerpts from the detailed information are given here.

Formats

Regardless of the application used, when your electronic artwork is finalised, please "save as" or convert the images to one of the following formats (note the resolution requirements for line drawings, halftones, and line/halftone combinations given below):

EPS: Vector drawings. Embed the font or save the text as "graphics".
TIFF: Colour or greyscale photographs (halftones): always use a minimum of 300 dpi.
TIFF: Bitmapped line drawings: use a minimum of 1000 dpi.
TIFF: Combinations bitmapped line/half-tone (colour or greyscale): a minimum of 500 dpi is required.
DOC, XLS or PPT: If your electronic artwork is created in any of these Microsoft Office applications please supply "as is".

. Please do not:

1. embed graphics in your word processor (spreadsheet, presentation) document;
2. supply files that are optimised for screen use (like GIF, BMP, PICT, WPG); the resolution is too low;
3. supply files that are too low in resolution;
4. submit graphics that are disproportionately large for the content.

Captions

Ensure that each illustration has a caption. Supply captions separately, not attached to the figure. A caption should comprise a brief title (not on the figure itself) and a description of the illustration. Keep text in the illustrations themselves to a minimum but explain all symbols and abbreviations used.

Line drawings

The lettering and symbols, as well as other details, should have proportionate dimensions, so as not to become illegible or unclear after possible reduction; in general, the figures should be designed for a reduction factor of two to three. The degree of reduction will be determined by the Publisher. Illustrations will not be enlarged. Consider the page format of the journal when designing the illustrations. Do not use any type of shading on computer-generated illustrations.

Photographs (halftones)

Remove non-essential areas of a photograph. Do not mount photographs unless they form part of a composite figure (plate). Where necessary, insert a scale bar in the illustration (not below it), as opposed to giving a magnification factor in the caption.

Colour illustrations

Please make sure that artwork files are in an acceptable format (TIFF, EPS or MS Office files) and with the correct resolution. If, together with your accepted article, you submit usable colour figures, then Elsevier will ensure, at no additional charge that these figures will appear in colour on the Web (e.g., ScienceDirect and other sites) regardless of whether or not these illustrations are reproduced in colour in the printed version. For colour reproduction in print, you will receive information regarding the costs from Elsevier after receipt of your accepted article. Please indicate your preference for colour in print or on the Web only. For further information on the preparation of electronic artwork, please see External link http://www.elsevier.com/artworkinstructions.

Please note: Because of technical complications which can arise by converting colour figures to "grey scale" (for the printed version should you not opt for colour in print) please submit in addition usable black and white versions of all the colour illustrations. As only one figure caption may be used for both colour and black and white versions of figures, please ensure that the figure captions are meaningful for both versions, if applicable.

Tables

Number tables consecutively in accordance with their appearance in the text. Place footnotes to tables below the table body and indicate them with superscript lowercase letters. Avoid vertical rules. Be sparing in the use of tables and ensure that the data presented in tables do not duplicate results described elsewhere in the article.

Supplementary data
Preparation of supplementary data. Elsevier accepts electronic supplementary material to support and enhance your scientific research. Supplementary files offer the author additional possibilities to publish supporting applications, movies, animation sequences, high-resolution images, background datasets, sound clips and more. Supplementary files supplied will be published online alongside the electronic version of your article in Elsevier Web products, including ScienceDirect: External link http://www.sciencedirect.com. In order to ensure that your submitted material is directly usable, please ensure that data is provided in one of our recommended file formats. Authors should submit the material in electronic format together with the article and supply a concise and descriptive caption for each file. For more detailed instructions please visit our artwork instruction pages at External link http://www.elsevier.com/artworkinstructions.

Copyright

Upon acceptance of an article, authors will be asked to sign a 'Journal Publishing Agreement' (for more information on this and copyright see External link http://www.elsevier.com/copyright). Acceptance of the agreement will ensure the widest possible dissemination of information. An e-mail (or letter) will be sent to the corresponding author confirming receipt of the manuscript together with a 'Journal Publishing Agreement' form or a link to the online version of this agreement.
Subscribers may reproduce tables of contents or prepare lists of articles including abstracts for internal circulation within their institutions. Permission of the Publisher is required for resale or distribution outside the institution and for all other derivative works, including compilations and translations (please consult External link http://www.elsevier.com/permissions).
If excerpts from other copyrighted works are included, the author(s) must obtain written permission from the copyright owners and credit the source(s) in the article. Elsevier has preprinted forms for use by authors in these cases: please consult External link http://www.elsevier.com/permissions.

Funding body agreements and policies

Elsevier has established agreements and developed policies to allow authors who publish in Elsevier journals to comply with potential manuscript archiving requirements as specified as conditions of their grant awards. To learn more about existing agreements and policies please visit External link http://www.elsevier.com/fundingbodies

After acceptance

Page Proofs

When your manuscript is received by the Publisher it is considered to be in its final form. Proofs are not to be regarded as 'drafts'. One set of page proofs in PDF format will be sent by e-mail to the corresponding author, to be checked for typesetting/editing. No changes in, or additions to, the accepted (and subsequently edited) manuscript will be allowed at this stage. Proofreading is solely your responsibility.
A form with queries from the Copyeditor may accompany your proofs. Please answer all queries and make any corrections or additions required.
The Publisher reserves the right to proceed with publication if corrections are not communicated.
Return corrections within 3 days of receipt of the proofs. Should there be no corrections, please confirm this.
Elsevier will do everything possible to get your article corrected and published as quickly and accurately as possible. In order to do this we need your help. When you receive the (PDF) proof of your article for correction, it is important to ensure that all of your corrections are sent back to us in one communication. Subsequent corrections will not be possible, so please ensure your first sending is complete. Note that this does not mean you have any less time to make your corrections, just that only one set of corrections will be accepted.

Online Publication

Your article will appear on Elsevier's online journal database ScienceDirect as an "Article in Press" within approximately 4-6 weeks of acceptance. Articles in Press for this journal can be viewed at External link http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01657836. An Article in Press may be cited prior to its publication by means of its unique digital object identifier (DOI) number, which does not change throughout the publication process.

Reprints

The corresponding author, at no cost, will be provided with a PDF file of the article via e-mail or, alternatively, 25 free paper offprints. The PDF file is a watermarked version of the published article and includes a cover sheet with the journal cover image and a disclaimer outlining the terms and conditions of use. Additional reprints can be ordered on a reprint order form which will be sent to the corresponding author of the accepted article by the publisher.

Author's Discount

There is a 30% discount on most Elsevier book publications.

Contact

For inquiries relating to the submission of manuscripts (including electronic submission where available) please visit External link http://www.elsevier.com/authors. The Elsevier Web page also provides the facility to track accepted articles and set up e-mail alerts to inform you of when an article's status has changed, as well as detailed artwork guidelines, copyright information, frequently asked questions, and more. Please note that contact details for questions arising after acceptance of an article (especially those relating to proofs) are provided after registration of an article for publication.

Fisheries research has no page charges.
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