Data Retrieval Policy

Data Retrieval Policy for Advances in Aquaculture and Fisheries Management

1. Purpose of the Policy

The Data Retrieval Policy ensures that research data supporting the findings of published articles are:

  • Accessible to the research community for validation and reuse.
  • Stored securely to safeguard its integrity.
  • Managed in compliance with ethical, legal, and regulatory standards.

2. Scope of the Policy

This policy applies to all authors, reviewers, editors, and readers of the journal. It covers:

  • Data generated and analyzed in the submitted manuscript.
  • Supplemental datasets required to reproduce or validate the study's findings.

3. Author Responsibilities

3.1 Data Availability Statement (DAS)

  • Authors must include a Data Availability Statement in their manuscript.
  • The DAS should specify:
    • Whether data is publicly available.
    • Any access restrictions.
    • Repositories where the data is stored, with a permanent identifier (e.g., DOI or accession number).

Examples of DAS:

  • “The data supporting this study are available in [Repository Name] at [DOI/URL].”
  • “Data are available on request due to ethical restrictions.”
  • “The data that support the findings of this study are included in the article and its supplementary material.”

3.2 Data Repositories

  • Authors are encouraged to deposit data in recognized public repositories, such as:
    • Dryad, Zenodo, or Figshare (general repositories).
    • GenBank, PANGAEA, or FAIRsharing (discipline-specific repositories).
  • Data must be deposited before manuscript submission and include a unique identifier (e.g., DOI or accession number).

3.3 Ethical Considerations

  • Authors must ensure data sharing complies with ethical standards, including informed consent for human subjects and ethical treatment of animals.
  • Sensitive or proprietary data should include a justification for access restrictions.

4. Data Accessibility

4.1 Reviewer Access

  • Authors must provide access to their data during the review process if requested by reviewers or editors.
  • Data provided for peer review must remain confidential and should not be shared further without consent.

4.2 Post-Publication Access

  • All data supporting published findings must be made publicly accessible unless restricted for ethical, legal, or proprietary reasons.
  • Any restrictions must be clearly justified in the manuscript.

5. Data Retention

5.1 Retention Period

  • Authors must retain raw data and associated materials for a minimum of 5 years after publication to allow for reproducibility and verification.

5.2 Version Control

  • Authors should maintain records of data version history, especially for datasets undergoing updates.

6. Data Citation

6.1 Proper Citation

  • Authors must cite datasets in the References section of their manuscript. A proper citation includes:
    • Dataset creator(s).
    • Year of dataset publication.
    • Title of the dataset.
    • Repository name.
    • DOI or other unique identifier.

Example Citation:
Smith, J., & Taylor, L. (2023). Fish migration patterns in coastal ecosystems [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.1234/dryad.56789.

7. Editorial Responsibilities

7.1 Verification

  • Editors must ensure that authors provide a clear and accurate DAS.
  • During review, editors may request access to raw data for additional scrutiny.

7.2 Handling Data Concerns

  • If concerns about data integrity or accessibility arise, the editorial team may:
    • Contact authors for clarification.
    • Consult with reviewers or third-party experts.
    • Issue corrections, retractions, or data availability updates, as appropriate.

8. Policy for Readers and Third Parties

8.1 Requesting Data

  • Readers may request additional data directly from the corresponding author, as noted in the DAS.
  • Authors are encouraged to respond to reasonable data requests promptly.

8.2 Reporting Data Issues

  • Concerns about data accuracy, availability, or misuse should be reported to the journal’s editorial office.

9. Non-Compliance

  • Non-compliance with this policy may result in manuscript rejection, publication delays, or retraction of the article.
  • Authors with valid reasons for non-compliance must communicate these to the editorial office during submission.