The 18th International Pectinid Workshop (IPW) was held in Qingdao, China on April 20-26, 2011.  It was the first time that the IPW series was held in China since its foundation about 34 years ago.

Consisting of 47 oral presentations and 46 posters, the workshop covered topics relating to pectinids, including aquaculture, ecology and biodiversity, fisheries, genetics and breeding, physiology and pathology, reproduction and development, resource management.

The workshop is dedicated to the dissemination of knowledge concerning the scallop species of the world, particularly those of commercial importance. Pectinids have a worldwide economic and ecological importance as evidenced by around 100 people from 14 countries attending the workshop, including Prof. Kenneth Chew, former president of World Aquaculture Society and Prof. Sandra Shumway, president of National Shellfisheries Association (U.S.).

An award ceremony was held at the end of the workshop. 9 graduates from different countries received travel awards and Prof. Kenneth Chew won the prize for outstanding achievement. 

The workshop was jointly organized by Institute of Oceanology (Chinese Academy of Sciences), Ocean University of China, Yellow Sea Fisheries Institute (Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences), and Chinese Society of Malacology. It provided an opportunity for China to show to the world China's achievements in the R&D and industrialization of pectinids industry.　

The IPW series commenced in 1975 and have been held in a range of venues around the globe during the past 34 years. Given the top output of pectinids in the world, China won the bid to host the 18th IPW this year.