Plagiarism Policy
At the International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Incremental Innovation (IJFAII), we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and originality. Plagiarism in any form is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated under any circumstances. This policy outlines our approach to preventing, detecting, and managing plagiarism throughout the submission and publication process.

Definition of Plagiarism
Plagiarism occurs when an author uses someone else’s work, ideas, or content without proper acknowledgment, presenting it as their own. This includes:

1. Copying text, figures, tables, or images from another source without proper citation.
2. Using substantial sections of another author’s work without permission or reference.
3. Self-plagiarism, which involves reusing significant portions of the author’s own previously published work without citation of the original source.
4. Plagiarism undermines the trustworthiness of scholarly communication, particularly in a field as dynamic and innovation-driven as fisheries and aquatic sciences.

Plagiarism Detection
All manuscripts submitted to IJFAII are subjected to plagiarism screening prior to peer review. The journal utilizes advanced plagiarism detection software to assess the originality of the content. Each manuscript is evaluated for similarity against published literature and other online sources.

Handling Plagiarism
Depending on the level of plagiarism detected in a submission, IJFAII will take the following steps:

1. Less than 5% Overlap: The manuscript will be registered and sent back to the author with a request for minor corrections and proper citations.
2. 5% to 15% Overlap: The manuscript will not be assigned an ID. Authors will be contacted to revise and resubmit the content with appropriate references.
3. More than 15% Overlap: The manuscript will be rejected at the initial stage. Authors will be required to make substantial revisions before resubmission as a new submission.

Rejection Due to High Plagiarism (>30%)
If more than 30% of the manuscript is found to be plagiarized, it will be immediately rejected. Authors involved in such cases may be disqualified from resubmission unless substantial revisions are made and the work passes a subsequent plagiarism review.

Post-Publication Plagiarism
If plagiarism is discovered after an article has been published, IJFAII will initiate an investigation. Based on the findings, the following actions may be taken:

1. The author’s affiliated institutions and funding agencies will be notified.
2. The article will be watermarked as “Plagiarized” on each page of the online PDF.
3. A formal retraction may be issued, depending on the severity and nature of the plagiarism.

Author Responsibility
By submitting a manuscript to the International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Incremental Innovation, authors confirm that:

1. The work is entirely original and has not been published or submitted elsewhere.
2. Proper citations have been provided for all quoted, paraphrased, or referenced material.
3. All co-authors are aware of and in agreement with the final submitted version.

Failure to comply with these requirements, whether intentional or unintentional, will be treated seriously and may result in rejection or retraction.

Self-Plagiarism
Reusing one’s own previously published content—such as methodology, figures, or discussions—without proper attribution is considered self-plagiarism and is equally unacceptable. Authors must cite their prior publications if any part of them is reused in the current submission.

Ethical Commitment to Originality
IJFAII is committed to protecting the integrity of the scientific record. All manuscripts undergo a rigorous originality check, and any ambiguity or concern about the originality of the content may lead to further investigation or queries to the author.

Authors must ensure that they submit only their original work, properly acknowledge all sources, and follow ethical publishing practices. The journal reserves the right to request additional documentation or clarification as needed.