Editorial policy
Code of ethics
It is necessary to agree upon standards of expected ethical behavior for all parties involved in the act of publishing (authors, editors, peer reviewers, publisher).
The Croatian Journal of Fisheries ethic statements are based on the guidelines and standards developed and published by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). All papers submitted to Croatian Journal of Fisheries are handled according to the Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors and Code of Conduct for Journal Publishers.
Croatian Journal of Fisheries is a member of Cross Check, a multi-publisher initiative for screen of published and submitted content for originality. By depositing published content and checking submitted manuscripts for plagiarism, Croatian Journal of Fisheries is actively committed to combat against plagiarism and devoted to publication of original research.
Principles to which authors should adhere
Journal’s policies on authorship and contributorship is based on COPE Council, 2019.
The Croatian Journal of Fisheries bases its authorship and contributorship policies on COPE guidelines to ensure clear standards, transparency, and integrity in scholarly publishing. Authorship requires a substantial contribution to the work and full accountability for the accuracy and integrity of the published research. All individuals who qualify as authors must be named, while other contributions that do not meet the criteria for authorship should be explicitly acknowledged in the acknowledgements section. Discussions regarding authorship and the order of authors should begin early in the research process, and any pre- or post-publication authorship disputes will be handled in accordance with COPE protocols and flowcharts.
The Croatian Journal of Fisheries is committed to handling all complaints and appeals promptly, transparently, and in accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines. The journal maintains a designated contact person to receive and oversee ethics enquiries, complaints, and author appeals regarding editorial decisions. The editorial office focuses on safeguarding the integrity of the scholarly record and promptly correcting published literature when needed, while asking authors' home institutions, employers, or funding bodies to investigate and address formal allegations of misconduct. Clear, standardized processes are established to manage concerns involving author, reviewer, editor, or staff misconduct and the journal may consult independent experts, partner journals, relevant institutions, or legal advisors to resolve complex disputes fairly.
The Croatian Journal of Fisheries takes all allegations of research misconduct, including data fabrication, data falsification, plagiarism, image manipulation, and unethical research practices, extremely seriously. In line with COPE recommendations, the editorial office utilizes pre-publication screening procedures (such as text-matching software and editorial checks) to identify potential ethical issues before publication. When an allegation of misconduct is raised by whistleblowers, reviewers, or readers, the journal systematically investigates the claim while maintaining appropriate confidentiality and neutrality. Since the primary role of the journal editor is to protect the integrity of the published scholarly record rather than to punish individuals, formal investigations into individual conduct are referred to the authors' host institutions, employers, or research funders. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the journal will take necessary actions to correct the literature, which may include publishing errata, issuing editorial expressions of concern, or retracting the article.
To maintain transparency and trust in the publication process, the Croatian Journal of Fisheries requires all authors, reviewers, and editors to declare any potential conflicts of interest that could influence, or be perceived to influence, the objectivity of the research or its evaluation. Financial, professional, personal, or institutional relationships that may constitute a conflict of interest must be disclosed at the time of manuscript submission and will be published alongside the article. The journal clearly outlines what constitutes a conflict of interest for all roles in the editorial workflow, ensuring that reviewers and editors recuse themselves from evaluating manuscripts where a conflict exists. If an undeclared conflict of interest is identified before or after publication, the editorial office will investigate the matter following standard COPE procedures and issue appropriate statements or corrections to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.
The Croatian Journal of Fisheries strongly encourages data sharing and transparency to support research integrity, enable peer validation, and enhance the reproducibility of scientific findings. Authors are expected to make the minimal data supporting the conclusions of their published study accessible to researchers, ideally by depositing raw data, software code, and analytical tools in trusted, FAIR-compliant public repositories (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). All submitted manuscripts must include a Data Availability Statement outlining where and how the underlying data can be accessed, or stating clear, justified reasons why data cannot be made publicly available (such as privacy, legal, or ethical restrictions). When reporting methods, statistical analyses, and experimental procedures, authors must provide sufficient detail and documentation to allow independent replication of the research. Where data sharing is restricted, authors must ensure that data access can still be provided to editors and reviewers upon request for peer review purposes (COPE’s Core Practice).
The Croatian Journal of Fisheries maintains rigorous standards for ethical oversight to safeguard the integrity of the scholarly record and protect the rights, safety, and dignity of research subjects. In accordance with COPE guidelines, ethical oversight policies encompass, but are not limited to, policies on publication consent, research involving vulnerable populations, and the ethical conduct of research utilizing human and animal subjects. Authors must ensure that all research respects participant privacy, complies with applicable laws and international guidelines, and provides proper documentation of prior institutional review board or ethics committee approval. The journal thoroughly evaluates submitted manuscripts to verify adherence to these research ethics standards and will investigate any post-publication concerns or ethical complaints systematically in cooperation with relevant institutions.
The Croatian Journal of Fisheries adheres to strict intellectual property standards in accordance with COPE guidelines to ensure transparency, clear copyright assignment, and protection against academic misconduct. Authors retain appropriate rights over their published work while granting the journal the necessary license to publish, with all licensing terms and open access options. Submitted manuscripts must represent original research; the journal strictly prohibits plagiarism, self-plagiarism, and unauthorized redundant or duplicate publication. Authors are required to secure all necessary permissions for reproducing third-party copyrighted material, including figures, tables, and research instruments, and must properly credit all original sources. Additionally, the journal maintains clear guidelines regarding preprints and self-archiving policies, and will systematically investigate any suspected intellectual property breaches or copyright disputes.
The Croatian Journal of Fisheries encourages post-publication academic debate in accordance with COPE guidelines. The journal welcomes constructive post-publication critiques, alternative data interpretations, and scientific debate through formal Letters to the Editor or comment submissions, giving original authors the opportunity to respond. When errors, scientific flaws, or ethical concerns are brought to the journal's attention, the editorial office investigates the matter systematically to preserve the integrity of the literature rather than to penalize individuals. Depending on the severity of the issue, the journal will issue appropriate amendments, including publishing errata/corrigenda for minor errors, releasing Editorial Expressions of Concern when investigations are ongoing or inconclusive, or issuing article retractions in accordance with COPE Retraction Guidelines when findings are fundamentally unreliable.
The Croatian Journal of Fisheries is dedicated to maintaining the integrity of the published scholarly record by providing clear, transparent mechanisms for corrections and retractions in accordance with COPE guidelines. When errors, inadvertent mistakes, or ethical concerns are identified after publication, the editorial office evaluates the issue to determine the appropriate corrective action based on its severity:
- Corrections: Published for minor errors—such as typographical mistakes, mislabeled figures, or minor author list updates—that do not alter the overall scientific findings or conclusions of the study.
- Editorial Expressions of Concern: Issued when serious concerns arise regarding the reliability, validity, or ethical conduct of a paper, particularly while an investigation by the journal or an institution is ongoing or inconclusive.
- Retractions: Applied in severe cases where the core findings are rendered fundamentally unreliable due to research misconduct (such as data fabrication, falsification, or severe plagiarism) or major honest errors, following official COPE Retraction Guidelines.
All notices of correction, expression of concern, or retraction are published open access, clearly linked to the original article, and indexed to ensure complete transparency across bibliographic databases.
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