We initiated an evaluation of the scholarly communication and publishing process in marine and aquatic sciences. This involves three components: describing the core journals for the discipline; examining the mechanics of publishing; and learning the mindset of authors and editors. We identified a core list of 19 journal titles and examined their pricing history. We engaged in a dialog with editorial board members of marine and aquatic science journals. Finally, we initiated discussions with faculty to learn the role of publications in the promotion and tenure process. Once our evaluation is complete we hope that it will encourage the transformation of scholarly publishing in marine and aquatic sciences.