IHB announced the impact factor of its journal, Water Biology and Security (WBS), which achieved its first impact factor of 5.1. (Credit: IHB)

On June 22, 2024 the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences hosted a press conference announcing the impact factor of its journal, Water Biology and Security (WBS), which achieved its first impact factor of 5.1.

According to the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) released by Clarivate on June 20, WBS is ranked 5th out of 62 journals in the Fisheries category, 6th out of 119 in Marine & Freshwater Biology, and 80th out of 358 in Environmental Sciences, all within the Q1 quartile. Notably, WBS is the only ESCI journal in the top 10 of both Fisheries and Marine & Freshwater Biology fields and is the first domestic journal in the Fisheries category to be included in the Clarivate database. 

The report also traced the development history of WBS: from its launch in February 2022, inclusion in DOAJ and Scopus databases, and its selection as a high-profile journal in the "China Science and Technology Journal Excellence Action Plan," to its recent achievements including receiving a CN number and ESCI inclusion, culminating in its first impact factor. 

WBS, published by KeAi, is a comprehensive English-language journal covering aquatic biodiversity and conservation, water environment and ecological security, and fisheries and seafood safety. The attainment of its first impact factor signifies a major international recognition of WBS's influence and contributions to global scientific discourse. 

The journal aims to advance research in aquatic biology, environmental science, and aquaculture. In line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and broader ecological strategies, WBS addresses critical issues in water ecosystems through interdisciplinary research, providing crucial scientific support for global water resource, environmental, and security challenges.