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Publication ethics and malpractice statement

Ethical Standards

The Journal of Integrated Coastal Zone Management / Revista de Gestão Costeira Integrada (JICZM/RGCI) is a peer-reviewed international journal that publishes articles dealing with all subjects related to coastal management. Published papers present results from fundamental as well as applied and directed research. Emphasis is given to results relating to interdisciplinary contributions, management tools and techniques, innovative methodological or technical developments, items with wide general applicability, and local or regional experiments that can be a source of inspiration to other regions.
 
The journal serves to further academic discussions of topics, irrespective of their nature – whether religious, gender-based, environmental, ethical, political or other potentially or topically contentious subjects.
 
The act of publishing involves the author, the journal editor, the peer-reviewer, the publisher and there are clear responsibilities that all involved to meet expected ethical standards at all stages in their involvement from submission to publication of an article.  
 
JICZM/RGCI is committed to meeting and upholding standards of ethical behaviour at all stages of the publication process. We follow the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) that has set standards and provide guidelines for best practices in order to meet these requirements,  with respect to: 
JICZM/RGCI strictly acts according to the COPE Code of Conduct namely the General duties and responsibilities of Editors, Relations with readers, Relations with authors, Relations with reviewers, The peer-review process, Complaints, Encouraging debate, Encouraging academic integrity, Protecting individual data, Pursuing misconduct, Ensuring the integrity of the academic record, Commercial considerations and Conflict of interest (see more at http://publicationethics.org/files/u2/New_Code.pdf).
 
JICZM does not apply submission, publishing and open access charges / fees and has no sponsored supplements or special issues.
 
Thematic Issues submissions are handled in the same way as other submissions, so that articles are considered and accepted solely on their academic merit.
 
The Chief Editor, Associate Editors and Editorial Board guarantee the needs of readers and authors, ensure the quality of the material they publish, maintain the integrity of  the academic record, guarantee intellectual standards and are always willing to publish corrections, clarifications, retractions and apologies in the implementation of Best Practice Guidelines on Publication Ethics, intellectual and ethical standards.
 
Below is a summary of our key expectations of editors, peer-reviewers and authors.
 
 

1. ETHICAL EXPECTATIONS 

Editors’ responsibilities 

 
The editors’ communication with authors will contain a description of the peer review processes and a formal mechanism for authors to appeal against Editorial decisions is explained.
 
The editors communication with the referees will contain guidance on the review process and on everything that is expected of them is made together with an explanation of peer reviewers’ identity protection (preserving their anonymity).
 
 

Reviewers’ responsibilities 

 
 

Authors’ responsibilities 

 
 

Publishers’ responsibilities 

 
 
 

2. PROCEDURES FOR DEALING WITH UNETHICAL BEHAVIOUR

 

Identification of unethical behaviour 

 

Investigation 

 

Misconduct 

 

Outcomes (in increasing order of severity; may be applied separately or in conjunction)