Author Guidelines

These guidelines explain how to prepare and submit a manuscript to the Journal of Vocational in Aquaculture (JAVA). Please read them in full before submitting. Manuscripts that do not follow the guidelines or the journal template will be returned to the authors before peer review.

Download Article Template (.docx) Download Author Statement Form Submit a Manuscript

Contents

  1. Scope and article types
  2. Requirements at a glance
  3. Preparing files for double-blind review
  4. Manuscript structure
  5. Style, units, and nomenclature
  6. Tables and figures
  7. References
  8. Research and publication ethics
  9. Submission and review process
  10. Submission checklist

1. Scope and article types

JAVA publishes practical and applied aquaculture research that can be put into practice on farms and in industry. Studies with only marginal relevance to real farming systems are outside the scope. Please check the Focus and Scope before submitting.

Manuscripts that propose a new technology, feed, or management practice must include an economic or feasibility analysis (for example, production cost, revenue, R/C ratio, break-even point, or payback period).

  • Research Articles report original results that add new knowledge or practical insight, not only confirm previously published work.
  • Review Articles critically evaluate a defined subject: the quality of existing data, the current state of knowledge, and the research still needed. A summary of published data alone is not accepted.
  • Short Communications report important or urgent findings that merit rapid publication.

2. Requirements at a glance

Language English (British or American, used consistently)
File format Microsoft Word (.docx), prepared with the JAVA template
Title Maximum 15 words; capitalise each major word
Abstract One paragraph, maximum 250 words, no citations
Keywords 3 to 5 words or phrases
Introduction Maximum 2 pages
References Mostly from the last 10 years; at least 80% journal articles; include DOIs
Figures At least 300 dpi (JPEG, PNG, or TIFF)
Peer review Double-blind, by at least two independent reviewers
Fees None. Submission and publication are free of charge.
License CC BY 4.0; authors retain copyright

3. Preparing files for double-blind review

JAVA uses double-blind peer review, so the identities of authors and reviewers are hidden from each other. Please upload two separate files:

  1. Title page: title; full names of all authors; affiliations (department, institution, city, country); ORCID iDs; e-mail address of the corresponding author; author contributions; funding; conflict of interest statement; and acknowledgements.
  2. Anonymised manuscript: the full manuscript without author names, affiliations, acknowledgements, or project numbers. Refer to your own previous work in the third person (for example, "Iskandar et al. (2026) reported..." rather than "we previously reported..."). Remove author names from the document properties (in Word: File > Info > Inspect Document).

Also upload the signed Author Statement Form and, where relevant, the ethics approval letter.

4. Manuscript structure

Research articles should follow this order: Title, Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, Acknowledgements (title page only), Conflict of Interest, and References. Results and Discussion may be combined if this makes the paper clearer. Review articles may use subject-based headings.

Title

Brief, specific, and informative; maximum 15 words. Include the scientific name of the main species studied, for example: "Growth Performance of Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus Fed Fermented Cassava Leaf Meal".

Authors and affiliations (title page only)

Write full names without academic titles. Give the full affiliation for each author (department, institution, city, postal code, country). Mark the corresponding author with an asterisk and include their e-mail address. ORCID iDs are required for the corresponding author and encouraged for all authors.

Abstract

One paragraph of no more than 250 words, stating the background, objective, methods, main results (with key numbers), and conclusion or practical implication. Do not cite references in the abstract.

Keywords

Three to five words or phrases, in alphabetical order, that are not already in the title.

Introduction

No more than two pages. Briefly describe the practical problem, the current state of knowledge, the research gap or novelty, and the objective(s) of the study. Extended discussion of the literature belongs in the Discussion.

Materials and Methods

Describe the methods in enough detail for other researchers to repeat the work:

  • Study site and period: location, dates, and the type of facility (laboratory, hatchery, pond, cage, or commercial farm).
  • Experimental organisms: species with scientific name, source, life stage, initial size (mean ± SD of body weight and length), and stocking density.
  • Culture system and husbandry: tank or pond size, water source and exchange, aeration, feeding regime, and photoperiod.
  • Water quality: parameters measured (for example temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, total ammonia nitrogen, salinity), methods, and frequency.
  • Diets and feed: composition and proximate analysis of experimental diets.
  • Commercial products and equipment: product name, manufacturer, and country.
  • Calculations: formulas for performance indices such as weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), survival rate (SR), and economic indicators.
  • Experimental design and statistics: the design (for example completely randomised design), number of treatments and replicates, the experimental unit (tank, pond, or cage, not individual fish unless justified), statistical tests, software, and significance level.

Cite the original source for standard methods and explain any modifications.

Results

Present results in tables or figures where possible, without showing the same data in both. Report means with a measure of variation (SD or SE) and the significance level (for example, P < 0.05). The text should highlight the main findings rather than repeat every number in the tables.

Discussion

Interpret the results, explain the biological and practical mechanisms, and compare them with relevant literature. Do not repeat the Results. Explain what the findings mean for farmers and the industry, including the economic implications.

Conclusion

One short paragraph that answers the objective(s) and states the practical recommendation, for example the optimal dose, density, or practice.

Conflict of Interest, Funding, and Acknowledgements

State any financial or personal relationships that could influence the work. If there are none, write: "The authors declare no conflict of interest." Funding sources, grant numbers, and acknowledgements go on the title page.

5. Style, units, and nomenclature

  • Use the SI system (g, kg, L, mL, m, °C, d, h) and a point (.) as the decimal separator.
  • Write scientific names in italics. Give the full name at first mention, for example Oreochromis niloticus, and abbreviate the genus afterwards (O. niloticus). Give the common name at first mention as well.
  • Define abbreviations at first use in the abstract and again in the main text.
  • Write numbers one to nine in words, except with units (5 g) or in tables, and do not start a sentence with a numeral.
  • Use generic names for ingredients and products in the title and keywords (for example "full-cream milk powder" rather than a brand name). Brand names may appear in the Materials and Methods.

6. Tables and figures

  • Number tables and figures consecutively (Table 1, Figure 1) and cite each one in the text.
  • Tables must be editable (created in Word, not pasted as images), with horizontal lines only. Place the title above the table and notes below it, and explain all abbreviations.
  • Figures must be at least 300 dpi, with legible text and axis labels that include units. Place the caption below the figure.
  • Indicate significant differences with superscript letters and explain them in a table note.
  • Photographs of fish or facilities should include a scale bar where size matters.

7. References

Every reference cited in the text must appear in the reference list, and vice versa. We recommend using a reference manager such as Mendeley, Zotero, or EndNote.

  • Most references should be from the last 10 years, and at least 80% should be journal articles.
  • Do not cite theses, dissertations, or non-peer-reviewed proceedings, and do not use "Anonymous" as an author.
  • Avoid secondary citations ("Morris in Miftah et al., 2008"); cite the original source.
  • Websites may be cited only when published by a credible institution, with the access date in square brackets.
  • Include the DOI for every reference that has one.

Citations in the text

One author: Takahashi (2014) or (Takahashi, 2014). Two authors: Priyanto & Johnson (2011) or (Priyanto & Johnson, 2011). Three or more authors: Naylor et al. (2021) or (Naylor et al., 2021). Several citations: (Boyd & McNevin, 2015; Naylor et al., 2021), in chronological order.

Reference list

List references alphabetically by the first author's surname. Abbreviate journal titles according to the NLM Catalog (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nlmcatalog/journals).

Journal article
Naylor, R. L., R. W. Hardy, A. H. Buschmann, S. R. Bush, L. Cao, D. H. Klinger, D. C. Little, J. Lubchenco, S. E. Shumway, & M. Troell. 2021. A 20-year retrospective review of global aquaculture. Nature 591:551-563. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03308-6

Book
Boyd, C. E. & A. A. McNevin. 2015. Aquaculture, Resource Use, and the Environment. Wiley-Blackwell, Hoboken, NJ.

Book by an organisation
National Research Council. 2011. Nutrient Requirements of Fish and Shrimp. The National Academies Press, Washington, DC. https://doi.org/10.17226/13039

Book chapter
Roux, S. J. & G. Clark. 2019. Extracellular ATP signaling in animals and plants: comparison and contrast. In: S. Sopory (Ed.). Sensory Biology of Plants. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-8922-1_15

Report or electronic publication
FAO. 2024. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024: Blue Transformation in Action. FAO, Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cd0683en [October 1, 2026].

8. Research and publication ethics

  • Originality: the manuscript must not have been published before or be under consideration by another journal. All submissions are checked for similarity; manuscripts with a high similarity to existing work will be rejected.
  • Animal welfare: experiments with fish and other aquatic animals must follow international, national, or institutional animal welfare rules. State the ethics approval body and approval number in the Materials and Methods and upload the approval letter. Describe anaesthesia and euthanasia methods where used.
  • Authorship: everyone listed as an author must have contributed substantially to the work and approved the final version. Changes to the author list after submission require the written agreement of all authors.
  • Use of AI tools: AI tools cannot be listed as authors. Any use of AI in the research or writing must be disclosed in the Materials and Methods or Acknowledgements. See the Authorship and AI Policy.
  • Data availability: authors should keep the raw data and provide them to the editor on request.

JAVA follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). See the Publication Ethics page for details.

9. Submission and review process

  1. Submission: register and submit through the JAVA submission system, uploading the anonymised manuscript, title page, Author Statement Form, and any supplementary files.
  2. Initial check: the editor checks scope, template compliance, and similarity. Manuscripts that do not meet the requirements are returned or declined without review.
  3. Double-blind peer review: at least two independent reviewers evaluate the manuscript.
  4. Decision: accept, minor revision, major revision, or reject. Authors should return revisions within the time stated in the decision letter, with a point-by-point response to the reviewers.
  5. Production: accepted papers are copyedited and typeset, and authors check the proofs.
  6. Publication: articles are published open access under CC BY 4.0, with a DOI, in the May or November issue. There are no fees at any stage.

10. Submission checklist

  • The manuscript has not been published before and is not under review elsewhere.
  • The manuscript is written in English and prepared with the JAVA template (.docx).
  • The title has no more than 15 words and the abstract no more than 250 words.
  • The manuscript file is anonymised, and author details are in a separate title page.
  • Technology or feed studies include an economic or feasibility analysis.
  • Ethics approval for animal experiments is stated and the letter is uploaded.
  • All references are cited in the text, follow the JAVA style, and include DOIs where available.
  • Tables are editable and figures are at least 300 dpi.
  • The signed Author Statement Form is uploaded.

Questions about these guidelines can be sent to java.ikn@apps.ipb.ac.id.