In a significant move towards embracing Open Science principles, the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (CJFAS) has unveiled its latest initiative: a comprehensive Data and Code Availability Policy.
Effective as of May 6, 2024, the CJFAS journal team mandates that for studies presenting original results, authors must publicly share all data and code necessary to replicate those findings. This requirement, a condition for publication of accepted manuscripts, aims to promote transparency, reproducibility, and collaboration within the scientific community.
Under the new policy, authors are required to make their data and code accessible via an online, community-endorsed data repository that issues a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) and open-source licenses permitting reuse. This ensures that researchers can easily access and verify the validity of published results, fostering trust and accountability in scientific research.
To assist authors in adhering to the policy, CJFAS provides detailed guidelines and examples of acceptable data repositories, as well as exemptions to data and code sharing. Authors are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the full policy outlined in the CJFAS Author Guidelines.
In addition, CJFAS offers recommendations on preparing and publicly archiving data and code through a newly published blog post, aimed at facilitating compliance with the policy and promoting best practices in data sharing.
It's important to note that while the Data and Code Availability Policy applies to manuscripts accepted after May 6, 2024, authors with manuscripts currently under review or revision with CJFAS, as well as those accepted prior to the policy's implementation, have the option to voluntarily opt-in and share their data and code via an online repository.
The introduction of the Data and Code Availability Policy underscores CJFAS's commitment to fostering a culture of openness, accountability, and collaboration in fisheries and aquatic sciences research. By embracing Open Science principles, CJFAS aims to drive innovation, accelerate scientific discovery, and enhance the integrity of scholarly communication.
Click here to read the original press release.
