Prof. YANG Hongsheng, ZHANG Tao and ZHANG Libin from Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences went to College of Veterinary Medicine, Scholl of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences of Auburn University, and aquaculture bases and companies around Alabama, USA. They exchanged aquaculture patterns and technologies with local scientists and researchers. After that, they went to attend the 15th International Echinoderm Conference in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

During their visit to the USA, the exchanged delegation visited College of Veterinary Medicine, the nation's largest animal hospitals and Prof. TAO Yaxiong’s laboratory. They talked about the research of the animal pigment receptors, and discussed the research progress of G-protein coupled receptors, Melanin Cortisol 4 Receptor (MC4R) mutations pharmacological function and corresponding therapies, as well as the mc4r expression and mutation in swordtail fish and Mexican cavefish. And they can supply new thoughts for research of of the body color regulatory mechanism and selective breeding of white and purple sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus. They also went to Scholl of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences and visit Prof. Zhanjiang Liu’s laboratory. They exchanged the research of genome sequencing of aquatic animals, molecular markers of genetic breeding and aquaculture technologies and patterns, etc. After the academic exchange, the exchange delegation also visited some aquaculture bases and companies around Alabama, and they got a comprehensive understanding of the various aquaculture patterns in Alabama, breeding of aquatic products, and talked about the reasonable and intensive aquaculture style. 

The 15th International Echinoderm Conference is the first time to hold such international conference in Latin America (Playa del Carmen, Mexico). More than 300 participants from 20 countries (China, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, etc.) attended the conference. Dr. Francisco a. Solis Marin and Dr. Alfredo Laguarda Figueras are the chairmans of the organizing committee. 2 main Sessions, 1 poster exhibition hall, 4 plenary talks and 80 oral presentations were organized. Asso. Prof. Libin Zhang made a presentation with the title of  The Movement and Feeding Behavior of Sea Cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus. He introduced the research progress of movement and feeding behavioral characteristics and influential factors of A. japonicus. Profs. Hongsheng Yang and Tao Zhang attended the conference and exchanged with some participants. They also discussed the international cooperation and the hosting of the next International Echinoderm Conference with the organizing committee chairman Dr. Francisco a. Solis Marin. and the collaborations of the Echinoderm Association, Chinese Society for Oceanology and Limnology and the international echinoderm associations.