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Editorial report 20042004 was another good year for the New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research (NZJMFR). The journal received a record number of submissions resulting in the need to consult more referees than ever before! An extra issue of the journal on invasive species was published in August. Papers submitted in 2004In 2004, NZJMFR received 153 papers, of which 41% were from New Zealand authors and the remainder (59%) were from researchers outside New Zealand. The main New Zealand sources (as a percentage of the total) were: National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited (20%), University of Otago (5%), University of Canterbury (4%), and Cawthron Insitute (3%). Papers submitted from outside New Zealand came from researchers in Australia (25%), Asia (9%), North America (8%), Europe (7%), Central and South America (7%), as well as Africa and the Middle East (3%). Papers were reviewed by over 290 referees from almost 30 countries worldwide: Australasia and the Pacific (48%), North America (31%), Europe (15%), Central and South America (3%), Asia (2%), Africa and the Middle East (1%). The rejection rate for papers submitted in 2004 is currently 14% (includes withdrawn and lapsed papers). Many papers were rejected because of poor design and analysis; statistical issues have continued to be a problem and in many cases there appears to be insufficient statistical input, especially at the design stage. Papers published in 2004Volume 38 comprises 69 scientific papers in five issues (a total of 915 p.). The extra issue (Volume 38 number 3), published in August 2004, is a special issue on invasive species. It features invited and selected papers, as well as the abstracts of all papers presented at a workshop of the Australian Society of Fish Biology. The average time from submission of a paper to acceptance was 24 weeks and from acceptance to publication was 22 weeks. The total time of 46 weeks is the same as that reported in 2003. New Scientific editorFrom 10 January 2005 NZJMFR will have a new Scientific editor—Dr Katrin Berkenbusch. I welcome Katrin to the journal and wish her all the very best for a successful and fulfilling association with NZJMFR. Now that NZJMFR will finally have its own dedicated Scientific editor, I will be able to concentrate on the other national journal that I manage. Thank you to all the authors, referees, and readers. With your support NZJMFR will continue to grow and flourish. I feel privileged to have been of service to you in the facilitation of science communication in the area of marine and freshwater research. Sandra Stanislawek
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