ICES Journal of Marine Science Template
Get your ICES Journal of Marine Science paper right the first time: a ready-made structure with the right abstract and citations, so editors see your science, not formatting slips.
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How to Use the ICES Journal of Marine Science Template | A Step-by-Step Guide
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 13 August, 2026
Submitting to ICES Journal of Marine Science goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the ICES Journal of Marine Science guide for authors before peer review, so formatting, structure, and required statements should be right on the first draft rather than repaired during upload. This template sets that structure up for you.
What is the ICES Journal of Marine Science Template?
It is a manuscript shell aligned to ICES Journal of Marine Science. It covers front matter, the abstract the journal expects, a body organized to the journal's article types, and a reference list in the journal's required style. Confirm current scope and article types on the ICES Journal of Marine Science journal page before you draft.
What's actually in an ICES J Mar Sci submission:
Prepare the title, authors, affiliations, and ORCID iDs. Write the abstract to the journal's rule and word limit, organize the body to the article type, and apply the required reference style from the first citation. Complete every declaration (ethics, competing interests, funding, data availability) the ICES Journal of Marine Science guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
What separates a clean submission from one that gets kicked back:
The common failure modes are formatting or reference style that does not match the guide for authors, missing required statements, and an incomplete portal checklist. Clear all three against the ICES Journal of Marine Science guide for authors before you submit.
What does this ICES Journal of Marine Science Template include?
The shell mirrors what editorial staff check first: article-type fit, the abstract rules, required declarations, and the journal's reference style. For more detail see the author resources. When your draft is ready, upload it through ScholarOne (Manuscript Central).
Steps to Use This Template with SciSpace Agent
- Click Start Writing on this page. The SciSpace Agent prompt screen opens with the template loaded.
- Use the loaded template, or upload a version your group already uses for ICES J Mar Sci.
- Edit the prompt with your topic and article type, and note any requirement from the ICES Journal of Marine Science guide for authors.
- Run the prompt. The agent drafts into the correct structure and reference style.
- Use View Outputs to verify required statements and formatting are present.
- Export and submit through ScholarOne (Manuscript Central).
ICES Journal of Marine Science Template Structure at a Glance
| Element | ICES J Mar Sci requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Unstructured (single paragraph). Maximum word count: 350 words. No specific requirements for headings or structure by article type are stated in the official guide |
| Main text | Original articles: Generally 5-12 pages (approximately 3000-7000 words) inclusive of text, appropriate references (target 50-60), figures, and tables. Comment/Reply articles: Generally 4 pages (approximately 2000 words). Review articles: No specific limit stated (authors advised to contact Editor-in-Chief regarding proposed length). Food for Thought, Quo Vadimus, and Stories from the front lines: No specific limits stated in the guide |
| Declarations | Ethics approval/consent as applicable; competing interests; funding; data availability |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | Required but no specific count is stated in the official guide. The guide states manuscripts should include 'key words' arranged in alphabetical order. Not MeSH, not editor-assigned, not explicitly optional |
| References | Oxford SCIMED style. In-text citations use name-date format (e.g., Smith et al., 1988). Reference list alphabetically ordered by first author surname, followed by initials. Give all authors unless more than four, then list first three followed by et al. Journal names spelled out in full (not abbreviated). Available style file: http://endnote.com/style_download/ices-journal-of-marine-science/ |
| Peer review | Single blind peer review (also called single-anonymous) |
| Submission | mc.manuscriptcentral.com/icesjms |
Quick Tips for Using the ICES Journal of Marine Science Template
Read the ICES Journal of Marine Science guide for authors once before drafting and once before upload. Draft the abstract after results are stable. Set the reference style before adding citations. Keep a cover letter that states your contribution and fit to ICES Journal of Marine Science in under a page.
Best Practices
Skim two or three recent ICES J Mar Sci papers to calibrate depth and figure style. Make the novelty clear in the first two pages. Deposit data and code when the policy on the ICES Journal of Marine Science journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Before You Submit: Final Check
Do one focused pass against the ICES Journal of Marine Science guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through ScholarOne (Manuscript Central).
