Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat
Policy on Publication of Non-CSAS Documents on the CSAS Website

1.  Policy Title

Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) policy on the Publication of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) scientific and other documents on the CSAS website.

2.  Effective Date

This policy is effective April 23, 2010.

3.  Policy Objective

The objective of this policy is to ensure that all CSAS publications are peer reviewed, meet CSAS policies, guidelines, and adhere to the standards of the “Principles and Guidelines for the Effective Use of Science and Technology Advice in Government Decision Making” adopted by the Government of Canada in 2001.

4.  Policy Statement

CSAS only publishes documents that have been peer reviewed according to its policies, guidelines, and procedures.

5.  Context

CSAS occasionally receives requests to publish documents which have not been peer-reviewed under the CSAS process. These documents will no longer be published on the CSAS website because they do not meet the process policies, guidelines, and standards for peer review that characterize CSAS publications.

CSAS coordinates the peer review of scientific information for the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) adhering to the standards of the “Principles and Guidelines for the Effective Use of Science and Technology Advice in Government Decision Making” adopted by the Government of Canada in 2001. Four different series of CSAS publications are currently being produced:

• Science Advisory Reports (SAR): documents the peer reviewed scientific advice that is achieved through the consensus of the meeting participants.
• Research Documents: documents the scientific studies and analyses that were peer reviewed during a workshop or peer review meeting. These documents are based on working papers that are produced before the meeting/workshop.
• Proceedings: documents the discussions that occur during a peer review meeting or a workshop.
• Science Responses: documents the peer reviewed scientific advice and proceedings for urgent and unforeseen meetings as per the Science Special Response Process.

To meet the standards of a CSAS publication, the document must have been developed as a product of a CSAS process. Often, other documents although produced through scientific meetings or processes do not meet the CSAS policies and criteria.

DFO has other publication series that can be used to publish or record documents that are produced outside of a CSAS process. Any other departmental document that is produced outside of the CSAS process should be published under other departmental publication series.

6.  Application and authority

Questions on the policy may be addressed by mail or e-mail to:

Director, Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat
Oceans and Science Sector
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
200 Kent St.
Ottawa, ON,
Canada  K1A 0E6

E-mail: CSAS-SCCS@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Fax: 613-990-2471