The 1st Asia-Pacific Coral Reef Symposium was organised in 2006 to provide a platform for scientists, educators, managers, environmentalists, and other stakeholders in the region to share their knowledge and expertise on the fields of coral reef biology, ecology, management and conservation, with the intention of forging greater cooperation and effective programmes for collaboration to preserve their common marine natural heritage.

With the theme ‘Coral reef science and management in a rapidly changing world’, the 5th APCRS will be held a the National University of Singapore (NUS) and continue to be a forum for reef scientists and managers to present, discuss and integrate the science and conservation of Asia-Pacific coral reef ecosystems.