Editorial report

2003 was another good year for the New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research (NZJMFR)-I can even say that it was an exciting year! Early in the year, eight international researchers were welcomed onto the Editorial Advisory Board providing the journal with a total of 16 "guardians" to keep an eye on NZJMFR in terms of quality, profile, and relevance to the regional as well as the international scientific community. The byline "International journal of aquatic science" was developed to be included on the cover of all issues of the journal to highlight the international relevance of NZJMFR. A high number of papers was submitted, all issues were published on schedule, and the publication times continued to be reduced! In between all this-a review of our production system was carried out, three special issues were negotiated for future volumes of NZJMFR, and work began on a new cover design.

Editorial Advisory Board

In early 2003, the following international researchers were appointed to the Editorial Advisory Board of NZJMFR:

Professor Fred Allendorf, University of Montana, United States
Professor Ray Hilborn, University of Washington, United States
Professor Malcolm Jones, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom
Dr Jorge Navarro, Universidad Austral de Chile, Chile
Professor Ned Pankhurst, James Cook University, Australia
Professor Dean Roemmich, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD, United States
Professor G. Robin South, International Ocean Institute, Australia
Professor Warwick Vincent, Université Laval, Canada

These international members join the eight New Zealand members appointed in 2002. All members are listed on the verso page of each journal issue.

Papers submitted in 2003

In 2003, NZJMFR received 90 papers, of which 71% (cf. 81%, 2002; 80%, 2001) were from New Zealand authors and the remainder (29%) were from researchers outside New Zealand. The main sources (as a percentage of the total) were: National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited (30% cf. 39%, 2002); The University of Auckland (9% cf. 3%, 2002); University of Otago (8%, cf. 17%, 2002); Ministry of Fisheries (5%); Waikato University (4%); Cawthron Institute (3%); and the Department of Conservation (3%). Papers submitted from outside New Zealand came from researchers in: Australia (10%); Chile (6%); United States (4%) as well as Fiji, Japan, Israel, Turkey, Austria, and Spain.

Papers were refereed by over 190 referees from over 20 countries: New Zealand (28%); Australia (25%); United States (25%); Canada (4%); United Kingdom (4%); Denmark (4%); France (2%); Germany; Brazil; Belgium; Hong Kong; Russia; Italy; Sweden; Netherlands; Spain; Czech Republic; Japan; Ireland; Israel; and Norway.

The rejection rate for papers submitted in 2003 is currently 18% (includes withdrawn and lapsed papers). Most papers were rejected because of poor design and analysis; statistical issues seem to be becoming a more evident problem.

Papers published in 2003

Volume 37 comprises 69 scientific papers in four issues (a total of 839 pages).

The average time from submission of a paper to acceptance was 25 weeks (as in 2002) and from acceptance to publication was 21 weeks (28 weeks in 2002). The total time of 46 weeks is a big improvement on the average of 53 weeks in 2002 and 56 weeks in 2001.

Production update

Ruth Munro was appointed production editor NZJMFR in early 2003. Improvements that Ruth has made to the proofing system have directly contributed to the faster publication time. Ruth copyedits papers soon after acceptance and emails page proofs to authors as PDF files. Authors email their comments or fax or post a printout of the page proofs back for correction. Issues are assembled ahead of time and the issue published online at least 1 month before the "cover date" of the printed journal.

Politics and progress

In 2003 the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology (MoRST) commissioned a review to provide information "as to the suitability of the current production model and the appropriate level of government subsidy" for New Zealand's national scientific journals. Financial issues, including the current level of funding and the deficits of the journals, are matters of concern. Although the review produced sound coverage of the current situation and a comprehensive account of the various scenarios to produce the journals and to disseminate the published research it did not provide any new information that we have not already considered. The two options that the review recommends be considered for the dissemination of published research are the same two options that we, along with other scientific publishers worldwide, are on the brink of choosing between, i.e., dependence on subscription income with limited distribution (the standard model) versus full funding by authors so that access to an electronic version is free enabling maximum dissemination and visibility ("open access" model). It would be logical to develop any model together with other New Zealand scientific publishers-for wide coverage, maximum efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

The Editorial Advisory Board has considered the recommendations of the review and I understand that the wider scientific community will have an opportunity to contribute to the discussion of our national publishing program in 2004.

Although page charges were made compulsory for all papers submitted in 2003, authors can apply for a waiver if they have no funds to cover publication charges. A new benefit to authors is the ability to download a PDF file of their published papers free. In addition, we now offer authors the single journal issue in which their papers are published at a special discount price.

In 2004 NZJMFR will feature an extra issue on "Invasive fish". This issue will be devoted to the proceedings of the workshop on invasive species held by the Australian Society for Fish Biology in Wellington in 2003. In 2005 NZJMFR will feature two extra issues on "Lobster biology and management" representing the proceedings of the 7th International Conference and Workshop held in Hobart in February 2004. We hope to make these extra issues available free online.

New look

From 1989 until December 2003 the journal cover (designed by Denis Gourley, DSIR Publishing, Wellington in 1989) provided NZJMFR with a unique identity as part of the suite of scientific journals originally published by DSIR. We have now adopted a new cover design (based on a design by Carla Appel, graphic designer/assistant photographer at Crop & Food Research, Lincoln) featuring a colour image relating to a paper published in the issue. The printed March 2004 issue of NZJMFR features an image provided by Dr Jennifer Cobcroft whose published paper is on jaw malformations in cultured yellowtail kingfish. Many thanks to Carla, Jennifer, and Ruth for their contributions to the new cover.

Thank you to all contributors to the journal in 2003-authors, referees, and readers.

Sandra Stanislawek
Scientific editor
Editor, New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research
1 March 2004
Endorsed by the Editorial Advisory Board