IHB researchers attended the First Asian-Pacific Conference of Endangered Marine Species Research and Conservation & 6th Conference of Cetacean Research and Conservation in Chinese Waters at Shantou University in Shantou, Guangdong province from Nov. 12 to 16, 2018. 

The First Asian-Pacific Conference of Endangered Marine Species Research and Conservation & 6th Conference of Cetacean Research and Conservation in Chinese Waters (Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) was held at Shantou University in Shantou, Guangdong province from Nov. 12 to 16, 2018. 15 researchers and students from the Research Group of Conservation Biology of Aquatic Animals at Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of Chinese Academy of Sciences attended the conference.    

The conference was jointly organized by the Alliance for Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong (OPCF) and Shantou University. The theme of this conference is the challenges and solutions to the protection of marine diversity under the changing environment. More than 130 people from various countries and regions attended the conference.    

IHB Prof. WANG Ding was invited to serve in the organizing committee of the conference and gave a keynote speech entitled “saving the Yangtze finless porpoise: scientific research exploration and future direction”. In his speech, he systematically introduced the population status and conservation of the Yangtze finless porpoise and look forward to the future of the Yangtze finless porpoise.    

IHB Prof. WANG Kexiong and Associate Prof. ZHENG Jinsong gave oral presentations and chaired parallel sessions. Several IHB students reported their research progress.IHB PhD students ZHOU Lu and Nabi were awarded Student Best Oral Presentation Award.   

The conference discussed the research progress, trends and latest achievements in the protection of endangered marine species. It not only enhanced the mutual understanding of domestic and foreign counterparts, but also set up a platform for future scientific research cooperation and technical exchanges.