Submit

2026

July 6-11, 2026
Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla Univerity

Background:

APPA has the regular symposium called Asian Pacific Phycological Forum (APPF) in every 3 years. We had 2024 APPF in Sapporo, Japan and the next 2027 APPF scheduled in HoChiMin City, Vietnam. With 30th anniversary of APPA, we are planning a new challenge of co-hosting the satellite or regional symposiums, a specific theme-based, in between these 3 years-intervals.

The first launch of long journey of APPA’s Regional Forum was in Rongcheng, Shandong Province, China with the theme of “Kelp Aquacultures: from Current Issues to Future Scientific Development for Applications and Sustainability”. As globally well-known, China has the largest production of aquacultured seaweeds in the world and the Shandong Province coastal areas is the main location with various other marine cultivated organisms. So, this was the right place to co-host a symposium there.

In 2026, we decide to be a co-host together with Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University with the theme of seaweed blue carbon and the related sciences. This Regional Forum aims to foster collaborative seaweed/seagrass/mangrove blue carbon and the role of seaweed/seagrass/mangrove in carbon sequestration from all perspectives and various sectors, including representatives from government agencies, private sectors, and the public. This meeting is our second launch of long journey of APPA’s Regional Forum.

Co-Host:

  • Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University
  • Asian Pacific Phycological Association (APPA)

Program Outline:

Evening Welcome ice breaking (5:00-7:00pm)

  • Day1 :
    • Morning – Opening Ceremony and 2-3 Keynote Speakers
    • Afternoon – symposium
  • Day2: Full day symposium
  • Day3:
    • Full day symposium
    • Evening – Banquet Dinner
  • Day 4: Field Trip to Thale Noi (Ramsar site)
  • Day 5-6: Post-workshops:
    • Underwater Drone Workshop at Libong Island, Trang
    • Blue Finance workshop
    • Creating regional report cards for kelp forest health
    • Social and economic aspects on blue carbon: how to obtain supports from people in Asia

Sessions and Workshops

Blue Carbon Policy and Government

Keynote Speaker
Dr. Pinsak Suraswadi
Director - General of Department of Marine and Coastal Resources
He plays a key role in advancing the country’s Blue Carbon policies, promoting the protection and restoration of mangroves, seagrass meadows, and other coastal ecosystems to enhance carbon sequestration and support national climate commitments.
He actively fosters collaboration among government agencies, researchers, communities, and international partners to strengthen coastal resilience and sustainable ocean management.

Seaweed Blue Carbon

Keynote Speaker
Associate Professor Mohammad Rozaimi Jamaludin
UKM Malaysia
A marine ecologist focused on seagrass ecology, coastal restoration, and blue carbon, supporting Malaysia’s national blue carbon agenda.
He is also adjunct professor at the Universitas Airlangga of Indonesia and serves as Secretary-General of the Global Mangrove Alliance – Malaysia Chapter (2025).

Coastal Biodiversity, Dynamics and Connectivity

Keynote Speaker
Dr. Aaron Eger
Kelp Forest Alliance
A marine scientist and conservation practitioner dedicated to protecting and restoring the world’s oceans, especially kelp forests.
He is the Founder and Program Director of the Kelp Forest Alliance, which leads the Kelp Forest Challenge—a global mission to protect and restore 4 million hectares of kelp forests by 2040.

Seaweed Aquaculture (biomass, blue carbon, sustainable use…)

Keynote Speaker
Professor Catriona L. Hurd
University of Tasmania, Australia
A Professor of Seaweed Physiology and Ecology, examining how seaweeds respond to climate stressors.
Nationally, she contributes scientific guidance on seaweed blue carbon opportunities and the feasibility (and limitations) of carbon crediting/carbon trading approaches for the Australia seaweed sector, including through forums such as the Australian Sustainable Seaweed Alliance.

Finances

Keynote Speaker
TBA
TBA

Post-Workshops

  • Underwater Drone - Libong
  • Capacity Building for ASEAN on Blue Finance
  • Creating regional report cards for kelp forest health
  • Social and economic aspects on blue carbon: how to obtain supports from people in Asia

5 Topics

  • Seaweed Aquaculture (biomass, blue carbon, sustainable use…)
  • Seaweed Blue Carbon
  • Blue Carbon Policy and Government
  • Finances
  • Coastal Biodiversity, Dynamics and Connectivity

3 Post-Workshops

  • Underwater Drone Libong
  • Capacity Building for ASEAN on Blue Finance
  • Sequestration of Carbon in Seaweed Farms Sediments

Submission & Registration

Speakers

Professor

Mohammad Rozaimi Jamaludin

  • Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
  • Malaysia
Professor

Phaik Eem Lim

  • University of Malaya
  • Malaysia
Professor

Ryuta Terada

  • Kagoshima University
  • Japan
Professor

Phaik Eem Lim

  • University of Malaya
  • Malaysia

Important Dates

Early Bird Registration

February 1 - Apr 30, 2026

Regular Registration

May 1 - 31, 2026

Abstract Submission Deadline

May 10, 2026

Abstract Acceptance for Presentation

May 15, 2026

Registration Fees

  • No Refund

Type

  • Save 50$

Early Bird

Regular

Feb 1 - Apr 30, 2026

  • Last payment: May 5, 2026

May 1 - 31, 2026

  • Last payment: May 31, 2026
Student
200 USD
250 USD
Delegate
300 USD
350 USD
Early Bird
Regular

Early Bird

Feb 1 - Apr 30, 2026

Register

Student

$200

/Person
$250
Save $50
  • Documents
  • Souvenirs
  • Coffee Break
  • Lunch
  • Banquet

Delegate

$300

/Person
$350
Save $50
  • Documents
  • Souvenirs
  • Coffee Break
  • Lunch
  • Banquet

Regular

May 1 - 30, 2026

Register

Student

$250

/Person
  • Documents
  • Souvenirs
  • Coffee Break
  • Lunch
  • Banquet

Delegate

$350

/Person
  • Documents
  • Souvenirs
  • Coffee Break
  • Lunch
  • Banquet

Sponsors

2026 APPA Regional Forum
© appa2026.sci.psu.ac.th
To be announced.

This link will be available soon.