Editor Guidelines
Standards and responsibilities for IMSJ editorial board members.
Leading Marine Science Review
IMSJ editors play a vital role in maintaining publication quality and advancing marine science. These guidelines outline expectations and responsibilities for editorial board members.
Manuscript Handling
Evaluate submissions for scope fit and quality, select appropriate reviewers, and make fair editorial decisions.
Review Coordination
Manage peer review timelines, provide constructive guidance to reviewers, and synthesize feedback for authors.
Quality Assurance
Ensure published content meets IMSJ standards for scientific rigor, methodology, and presentation.
- Maintain confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and review process
- Disclose and recuse from conflicts of interest
- Handle allegations of misconduct according to COPE guidelines
- Make decisions based solely on scientific merit
Independence: Editorial decisions are based on scientific quality and scope relevance. External pressures, author identity, or commercial considerations do not influence manuscript handling.
Editors should aim to assign reviewers within 7 days of receipt and render decisions within 14 days of receiving complete reviews. Prompt communication with authors maintains efficient workflows.
Prompt, professional communication is essential for efficient manuscript handling. Respond to editorial correspondence within the specified timeframes. If unavailable temporarily, notify the editorial office to enable reassignment and prevent processing delays.
Senior editors may mentor early-career editorial board members in manuscript handling and decision-making. Such mentorship strengthens the editorial community while developing next-generation leadership in marine science publishing. Contact the Editor-in-Chief about mentorship arrangements.
