Call for Papers

Advancing our understanding of marine ecosystems through rigorous peer-reviewed research.

IMSJ welcomes submissions across all marine science disciplines. Current priority areas include:

• Rigorous Peer Review: Evaluation by active marine scientists ensures published work meets the highest standards
• Rapid Publication: Efficient editorial processes minimize time from submission to online publication
• Permanent Archiving: Digital preservation ensures long-term accessibility of your research
• DOI Assignment: Unique identifiers facilitate citation tracking and discoverability
• Metadata Distribution: Content indexed by major academic databases and search engines

Authors should prepare manuscripts following IMSJ formatting requirements detailed in our Instructions for Authors. Submissions must represent original work not previously published or under consideration elsewhere. All authors must agree to submission and meet ICMJE authorship criteria.

Studies involving protected species, marine protected areas, or sensitive habitats require appropriate permits and ethical approvals. Research in international waters should demonstrate compliance with relevant conventions and agreements.

IMSJ prioritizes efficient processing while maintaining rigorous review standards. Most manuscripts receive initial editorial decisions within 3-4 weeks. Accepted articles are published online within 2-3 weeks of final acceptance, ensuring your discoveries reach the marine science community promptly.

We welcome proposals for thematic special issues addressing emerging topics in marine science. Special issues provide focused platforms for research communities to present comprehensive coverage of specific themes. Contact our editorial office to discuss potential topics and guest editor arrangements.

IMSJ welcomes contributions from researchers worldwide, recognizing that marine science advances through global collaboration. We actively seek manuscripts from international partnerships bringing diverse perspectives to ocean research. Multi-center studies comparing approaches across different oceanographic regions are particularly valued for advancing scientific understanding of marine systems. Authors from low and middle-income coastal nations receive fee waiver consideration, ensuring economic factors do not prevent publication of important marine research.

IMSJ encourages authors to deposit research data in appropriate repositories such as PANGAEA, Dryad, or Figshare. Data availability statements are required for all submissions. Authors should indicate where supporting data can be accessed or explain any restrictions. Sharing of research materials, biological specimens, and code is encouraged to support reproducibility in marine science research.

Publishing your marine research in an open access journal maximizes reach and impact. Without subscription barriers, your discoveries are immediately accessible to scientists at research institutions, government agencies, conservation organizations, and coastal communities worldwide. This broad accessibility accelerates translation of laboratory findings to practical applications in fisheries management, coastal protection, and marine conservation. Open access articles typically receive higher citation rates and greater altmetric attention compared to subscription-restricted publications.

Authors uncertain about manuscript suitability may submit pre-submission inquiries to [email protected]. Include a brief description of your research question, methodology, key findings, and any concerns about scope alignment. Our editorial team responds to inquiries within 3-5 business days with guidance on submission appropriateness and recommended article type.