Gavino Trono Jr. (born November 11, 1931) is a Filipino marine biologist dubbed as the "Father of Kappaphycus farming".

[1] He was conferred the rank of National Scientist of the Philippines for contributions to the study of tropical marine phycology, focusing on seaweed biodiversity.

Trono’s dissertation is considered as among the most important body of work on the diversity and ecology of algae in Micronesia.

[5] Trono led the assessment of several coastal areas in Western Mindanao as potential sites for seaweed farms; and discovered twenty-five (25) new marine benthic algae.

This award has been made to just over thirty leading scientists and this gives them a pension of life as well as a seat at important national ceremonies.