File format and layout (required)

• Submit manuscripts in Microsoft Word format only: .doc or .docx

• Use a single-column layout (do not submit two-column manuscripts)

• Font: Times New Roman or Arial, 12 pt (choose one and use consistently)

• Spacing: 1.0 (single-spaced) throughout, including references, tables, and figure captions

• Margins: 2.5 cm on all sides

• Page numbers: required

• Line numbers: continuous line numbering required (helps peer review)

• Turn off Track Changes and remove comments before submission

• Do not use underlining except for URLs (if unavoidable)
   

Language, style, and tone

• Manuscripts must be written in clear academic English 

• Write in a precise, neutral, policy-relevant style:

  • Avoid emotive or activist language unless it is part of a clearly framed argument

  • Define normative terms (e.g., “sustainability”, “equity”, “fairness”, “good governance”)

• Use inclusive language and avoid biased descriptors unless directly relevant and justified

• Prefer active voice where appropriate, but keep readability as priority
   

Units, terminology, abbreviations and naming conventions
Use SI units and the metric system

• Define all abbreviations at first mention (e.g., Marine Protected Area (MPA))

• Use consistent terminology throughout (e.g., don’t alternate between “microplastics contamination” and “microplastic pollution” unless you define distinctions)

• Scientific names: italicise genus and species (e.g., Perna perna). After first mention, you may abbreviate genus (e.g., P. perna)

• For legal/policy terms: define jurisdiction and instrument clearly (e.g., “South Africa’s Marine Living Resources Act (MLRA)”)
   

Manuscript components and order (required)

Submit your manuscript in this order:

1. Title page (separate first page)

2. Abstract

3. Keywords

4. Main text

5. Acknowledgements (if any)

6. Declarations (required statements — see below)

7. References

8. Figure legends

9. Tables

10. Figures (embedded after tables OR appended after references—choose one format and be consistent)

Important: For double-blind review, remove identifying information from the main text file if your system requires anonymised manuscripts. If you’re submitting by email, you can use a separate Title Page and an Anonymous Manuscript file.

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Title page (required)

Include:

• Title (≤15 words; sentence case; no abbreviations unless essential)

• Full author names

• Affiliations (department, institution, city, country)

• ORCID iDs (recommended for all authors; required for corresponding author)

• Corresponding author: email + full postal address

• Word count (including references)

• Article type (e.g., Research Article / Policy Analysis / Review)

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Abstract (required)

• Maximum 250 words

• Must stand alone (no citations, no undefined abbreviations)

• Prefer a structured abstract:

Objective – What the paper addresses and why
Methods – Data sources, design, analytical approach
Key findings – Main results (not a full discussion)
Policy/governance implications – Why this matters in practice
Value proposition – What is novel or distinctive

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Keywords (required)

• Provide up to 5 keywords

• Alphabetise and separate with commas

• Avoid multi-word phrases where possible (unless a term is standard in the field, e.g., “marine protected area”)
   

Highlights (optional but encouraged)

Provide 3–5 bullet points that capture:

• The paper’s key contribution(s)

• Novel insight(s), method(s), or dataset(s)

• Policy or governance relevance

(You can include these at the end of the manuscript or as a separate file.)

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Headings and structure

Use a clear hierarchy (maximum three levels):

1. Major section headings: bold, sentence case, left aligned (no punctuation)

2. Subheadings: bold, sentence case

3. Sub-subheadings: italic, sentence case

 

Suggested structures

Quantitative / empirical policy studies

• Introduction

• Methods

• Results

• Discussion

• Implications/Conclusion

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Qualitative studies

• Introduction

• Study context / setting

• Methods (sampling, data collection, ethics)

• Analytical approach (e.g., thematic analysis, grounded theory)

• Findings (themes)

• Discussion

• Implications/Conclusion

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Policy and legal analysis

• Introduction

• Background / policy context

• Analytical framework (if used)

• Findings / argument / evaluation

• Recommendations / implications

• Conclusion

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Declarations (required)

Place these before the references (as short labelled sections):

• Funding (or “This research received no specific funding…”)

• Competing interests (or “The authors declare no competing interests.”)

• Ethics approval (where relevant; include approval number if available)

• Consent (if human participants were involved, where relevant)

• Data availability statement (even if “not applicable”)

• Generative AI disclosure (only if used; otherwise omit)

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Reporting requirements for qualitative and mixed-methods papers

To strengthen rigor and reproducibility, qualitative submissions should clearly state:

• Study design and rationale

• Sampling strategy (who, how many, why)

• Data collection method (interviews, focus groups, document review, observation)

• Data analysis method (thematic analysis, content analysis, discourse analysis, etc.)

• Trustworthiness strategies (e.g., triangulation, member checking, reflexivity, audit trail)

• Limitations and transferability

For mixed-methods, explain:

• Sequence (convergent vs explanatory vs exploratory)

• Integration points (where qualitative and quantitative findings inform each other)

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Tables

• Tables must be editable (Word tables), not images

• Number tables sequentially: Table 1, Table 2…

• Provide a concise caption above each table

• Use minimal formatting:

  • No vertical lines

  • Minimal horizontal rules

• Use footnotes with lowercase letters (a, b, c) where needed

• Ensure tables are interpretable without the main text (“stand alone”)

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Figures, images and artwork

• Number figures sequentially: Figure 1, Figure 2…

• Provide captions below each figure

• Ensure all text in figures is readable when reduced

• Multi-panel figures must be labelled A, B, C…

• Acceptable formats: PNG, JPG, TIFF (TIFF preferred for highest quality)

• If maps are included:

  • Use common mapping standards

  • Show only the relevant study area

  • Avoid politically sensitive boundary claims unless essential

  • Include a brief neutrality note if needed

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Use of third-party content (required)

If you use any figure, table, image, or substantial text from another source:

• Obtain permission where needed

• Provide appropriate attribution

• Confirm that reuse is permitted under the relevant license

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Supplementary material

• Submit supplementary files separately with clear names:

  • “Supplementary_Table_S1.docx”

  • “Supplementary_Figure_S1.png”

• Provide a short caption/description for each

• Cite supplementary items in the text (e.g., “see Supplementary Table S1”)

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Theory and analytical frameworks

Where relevant, authors may include a theory or analytical framework section. This section should:

• Build on the conceptual background presented in the Introduction

• Clearly explain how theory informs the analysis, interpretation, or policy evaluation

• Be directly linked to subsequent sections of the manuscript

Highly technical or mathematical derivations should be included only where essential and clearly explained for an interdisciplinary readership.

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Glossary (optional)

If specialised or field-specific terminology is used extensively (e.g., legal terms, governance instruments, fisheries management concepts), authors may include a glossary.

• Define terms concisely and consistently

• Place the glossary after the main text and before the references, or in an appendix

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Footnotes

Footnotes should be used sparingly and only where necessary to clarify contextual, legal, or explanatory points.

• Number footnotes consecutively

• Use Word’s automatic footnote function, or clearly indicate placement in the text

• Avoid using footnotes for essential arguments or results that belong in the main text

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Acknowledgements

The Acknowledgements section should appear as a separate, unnumbered section immediately before the References.

This section may include:

• Individuals who assisted with fieldwork, interviews, analysis, mapping, or technical support

• Language editing or proofreading assistance

• Institutional or community support

Do not include acknowledgements:

• On the title page

• As a footnote to the title

• Within the main text

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Author contributions (CRediT)

Corresponding authors are required to include an Author Contributions statement using the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy).

Roles include, but are not limited to:

• Conceptualization

• Data curation

• Formal analysis

• Funding acquisition

• Investigation

• Methodology

• Project administration

• Resources

• Software

• Supervision

• Validation

• Visualization

• Writing – original draft

• Writing – review and editing

Not all roles will apply to every manuscript, and authors may contribute under multiple roles.

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Funding sources

Authors must disclose all sources of financial support for the research and/or manuscript preparation.

The statement should clearly indicate:

• The funding organisation(s)

• Grant numbers (where applicable)

• The role of funders in study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and publication decisions

Standard format:

Funding: This work was supported by [Funding body name] [grant number xxxx].

If funders had no role in the research or publication process, this should be stated explicitly.

If no funding was received, authors should include:

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Appendices

Appendices should be used to present supplementary material essential for transparency but not suitable for inclusion in the main text (e.g., extended methods, legal texts, interview guides, survey instruments).

• Identify appendices as Appendix A, Appendix B, etc.

• Number equations, tables, and figures separately within each appendix:

  • Equations: Eq. (A.1), Eq. (A.2)

  • Tables: Table A.1, Table A.2

  • Figures: Fig. A.1, Fig. A.2

Each appendix should be clearly referenced in the main text.

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Referencing and citation style (summary)

• Use Author–Year in-text citations

• Reference list in alphabetical order

• Include DOIs where available

• Ensure every in-text citation appears in the reference list and vice versa