- Aims and Scope
- ISSN 2691-6622 (online)
- Open access · CC BY 4.0
Aims and Scope
The International Journal of Aquaculture Research and Development publishes research on how aquatic animals and plants are bred, fed, grown, kept healthy and brought to market in fresh, brackish and marine water, and on the technology, economics and policy that surround that work.
What the journal sets out to do
IJAR publishes research on the culture of farmed aquatic animals and plants in fresh, brackish and marine water, including breeding, nutrition, production systems, water quality, health, sustainability, economics, policy and climate. Wild fisheries are considered when the work is linked to aquaculture.
The journal aims to publish methodologically sound research and development that informs aquaculture practice and policy, to advance the methods on which that research depends, and to make the results freely available to researchers, producers, extension services and policymakers in every region of the world.
The title is read broadly: research covers laboratory, hatchery, pond, cage, tank and farm studies, and development covers the engineering, economics, extension and governance that carry results into practice.
Nine areas along the production chain
Areas are listed to illustrate the scope, not to close it. Related work that serves aquaculture is considered.
Genetics and breeding
Selective breeding, genomics, broodstock management, reproduction and hatchery practice.
Nutrition and feed
Nutrient requirements, diet formulation, alternative ingredients and feed efficiency.
Production systems and engineering
Ponds, cages, raceways, recirculating and integrated systems, aquaponics, and farm design.
Water quality and environment
Culture-water management, effluents, and interactions between farms and their environment.
Disease and health
Pathogens, diagnostics, prevention, biosecurity, welfare and stress physiology of cultured species.
Sustainable practices
Resource-efficient, low-impact and circular production, including stock enhancement.
Economics and business
Farm economics, markets, value chains, extension and enterprise development.
Policy, law and governance
Regulation, licensing, spatial planning, certification and the management of aquaculture.
Climate change
Effects of climate change on culture systems, adaptation and resilience.
Fresh, brackish and marine culture
The journal considers culture in freshwater, brackish water and marine environments, in indoor and outdoor systems, and at scales from household to industrial production.
- Finfish
- Shellfish
- Crustaceans
- Aquatic plants and algae
Wild fisheries are considered when the work is linked to aquaculture, for example stock enhancement, integrated farming, disease transfer between wild and farmed stocks, or the effects of farms on surrounding waters.
Formats the journal accepts
All types are handled in the same way, and the order of review does not depend on article type or payment. A case series is classified as a Case Report. Preparation guidance is in the Instructions for Authors.
- Original Research
Experimental, field, survey, modeling or economic studies reporting new findings.
- Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Reviews that follow a documented search and selection method, with or without quantitative synthesis.
- Review
Narrative or critical reviews that synthesize a field and identify open questions.
- Methods and Protocols
New or validated methods, tools, models and protocols for aquaculture research or practice.
- Technical Note
Concise descriptions of a technique, design, device or procedure and how it performs.
- Short Communication
Brief reports of complete, focused findings.
- Data Note
Descriptions of a dataset with its collection methods and potential reuse.
- Case Report
Reports of an individual farm, outbreak, intervention or event of wider interest, including case series.
- Perspective
Reasoned, evidence-based viewpoints on research, technology or policy.
- Letter
Brief, evidence-based responses to published articles or short reports of timely findings.
What a manuscript needs
- The work addresses the culture of aquatic animals or plants, or a topic that serves aquaculture.
- Methods are described in enough detail to be repeated, and conclusions are proportionate to the evidence.
- Research on live animals reports approval from an institutional animal ethics committee, the welfare measures used and, where applicable, the ARRIVE items. Collection of wild stock reports the permits obtained.
- Research involving human participants, such as farmer surveys, reports ethics approval and informed consent, or a waiver documented by the ethics committee, where applicable.
- The work is original, is not under consideration elsewhere, and follows the journal's Editorial Policies.
Unsupported opinion, work outside the subject area, and manuscripts that do not meet the ethical or reporting requirements are not suitable for publication.
Not sure the work fits?
Send a brief inquiry to the editorial office before submitting. When ready, submit through ManuscriptZone or the simple submission form. Authors must use only one submission route for the same manuscript.