We are elated that Fisheries Oceanography is recognized by ISI Essential Science Indicators for the rapid increase in the citation of its papers. Blackwell Publishing shares this feeling. The meteoric rise of the journal since its inception in 1992 is likely due to multiple factors.

Foremost may be the need to understand the causes of fluctuations of fish stocks worldwide. Fisheries science has been criticized for being too reliant on correlation and short on understanding. Stocks of fish, from swordfish to squid to sardine, fluctuate, and in many cases have declined, due to both fishing and natural change. Lives and ecosystems are affected. Fisheries Oceanography endeavors to understand the relationship between populations of exploited fish and their oceanographic environment, including climate change. Such understanding is necessary for wise management and policy. In fact, papers published in the peer-reviewed literature are subject to use in litigation of disputes regarding lucrative fisheries. Thus, for both intellectual and practical reasons, it is necessary that papers be of the highest possible quality.

Fisheries Oceanography occupies a niche different than that of any other journal. Fisheries and oceanography are of interest to a wide readership, both basic and applied. Fisheries are of both ecological and economic importance, as well of societal value. Oceanography is the study of the oceans at all scales, including its response to climate change such as El Niño and global warming. Thus, Fisheries Oceanography is at the intersection of climate, oceanography, and fisheries, with readers in each of those areas.

The wise stewardship of the journal by its founder and first Editor-in-Chief, Tim Parsons, and his successor, Mike Mullin, was certainly of value. When conceiving the journal, Tim solicited community input to decide whether or not demand for it existed. Tim then fashioned an editing structure that has proven efficient and fair. Permanent, regional editors were named to manage the review of and decision on manuscripts submitted within their respective geographic regions. These were, initially, Takashige Sugimoto (Asia) and John Gamble (Europe and Africa), the latter replaced by Steve Coombs in 1994. A third regional editor was added in 2000. The editors, in turn, work with members of an Editorial Board, who recommend and, at times, serve as reviewers. Final editing is by the Editor-in-Chief.

A unique aspect of Fisheries Oceanography is that, in addition to being an international journal, it is the English-language journal of the Japanese Society of Fisheries Oceanography. This contributes to the stable base of subscribers.

The publication of special issues (normal run, subscriber paid) and supplements (author paid) of high quality and topical interest has also contributed to the journal’s success. Examples included issues devoted to GLOBEC, the Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics program; the ecosystem of Prince William Sound, Alaska; and long-term variations in northwest Pacific ecosystems.

Finally, and perhaps most important, the journal has developed a constituency of high fidelity as well as having attracted newcomers. This arises from the need to understand how fisheries and oceanography are related, the high standards of publication, and papers of current and lasting value. As a result, the rate at which manuscripts are submitted and published continues to increase, and the journal grows.