About the Hub
Mission
To propel the initiative forward, MISS has launched the ICONIC Oceans Data Hub, a public database of marine science research and educational outputs—including, but not limited to, datasets, programming scripts, tutorials, and visual media. By making these resources readily accessible, the hub will improve collaboration among scientists, policy makers, fishers, and community stakeholders and help educate new generations of researchers. The current version of the site was produced in partnership with the University of Chicago Data Science Institute, with generous support from the 11th Hour Project of the Schmidt Family Foundation.
Data Contribution Policy
1. Editorial Policies
ICONIC Oceans does not conduct formal editorial or peer review prior to publication. Instead, content submission is restricted to trusted members and verified partners of the Minorities in Shark Science (MISS) network, whose content is pre-approved. This model promotes rapid dissemination of high-quality resources while ensuring that only vetted contributors may add or modify content. We aim to expand editorial oversight as the platform evolves.
2. Ethical Standards
Contributors are expected to adhere to ethical practices in line with standard data stewardship and open science principles, including:
- Proper attribution of original authors and sources
- Transparency of data collection methods and limitations
- Respect for intellectual property rights and licensing terms
- Responsible sharing of sensitive or location-restricted data
We encourage contributors to consult ethical standards such as the COPE Guidelines or the OECD Principles and Guidelines for Access to Research Data from Public Funding, as applicable.
3. Reporting Issues with Published Content
If users encounter concerns with any published resource, we offer several reporting pathways:
- Data-Related: Email the point of contact listed on the resource collection webpage.
- Technical: Click on the floating “Feedback” button and then complete and submit the feedback form.
- Urgent issues or suspected misconduct: Email the ICONIC Oceans team directly at execboard@misselasmo.org.
4. Corrections, Updates, and Retractions
ICONIC Oceans supports responsible data stewardship and versioning. Works may be corrected or updated under the following circumstances:
- Discovery of errors that affect interpretation or reproducibility
- Refinement or expansion of datasets (e.g., new collection cycles)
- Clarifications requested by authors or readers
In rare cases, retractions may occur due to ethical violations, legal concerns, or critical flaws in data integrity. Retractions will be clearly labeled and include a rationale.
5. Treatment of Updated or Retracted Works
We prioritize transparency and version tracking. When a work is updated:
- The original version remains accessible, clearly marked with a warning symbol and a label indicating a newer version exists.
- Each version is timestamped and includes a changelog if applicable.
Retracted works are not deleted, but are visually flagged and linked to a retraction notice in Crossref. This ensures transparency and traceability across the scientific record.
For further questions regarding this policy or editorial practices, please contact us at execboard@misselasmo.org.
