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The scientific community revealed that it understands how
ciguatoxins transmit from algae to fish and then to humans
and how these toxins transform to become more toxic. It also
revealed that the toxins in question are different depending on
the ocean.

There are various fields of research left to explore: identifying
toxins and the most important fish species to monitor, improving
classification of the toxin and level of toxicity, assessing the level Marie-Yasmine
of risk depending on the species, modelling the transmission Dechraoui-Bottein
of the toxin throughout the food chain from the algae to large Researcher in
carnivores, defining surveillance methods and schedules, im- environmental toxicology
plementing effective treatments, and measuring the human and at the IAEA environmental
economic impact of this poisoning, which mainly affects tropical laboratories in Monaco
regions in the Indian ocean, Caribbean and the Pacific islands,
even though it now reaches Europe or the Mediterranean region.

The health risk of ciguatera has not been sufficiently known.
Doctors are not always trained in how to detect food poisoning
cases caused by fish. It is therefore important to raise the awar-
eness of these doctors and that of medical organisations. One
of the workshops during Monaco Ocean Week 2018 reflected A researcher in environmental toxicology at the IAEA
on the implementation of a simple guide, so that the countries in environmental laboratories in Monaco, Marie-Yasmine
question take this danger into consideration and that those who
are already aware of the danger adopt a methodology to treat Dechraoui-Bottein leads a research programme on
symptoms and illnesses. This documentation should increase the control and prevention of marine biotoxin impacts
the number of information materials (kits, TV ads, etc.) to raise
awareness amongst health authorities in each country, doctors, on the environment, food safety and public health.
and perhaps even the population. She is also the technical administrator of national,
regional and inter-regional technical cooperation
Various international organisations (FAO, WHO, etc.) have
acknowledged the importance of this topic. As noted by Elisa projects which aim to reinforce marine environment
Bertalet from Global Harmful Algal Blooms, the international
coordination programme for algae research, “there is no local management capacities of Member States, and
solution. We must promote a global strategy. Ciguatera is a si- therefore contribute to sustainable socio-economic
gnificant public health problem, with a significant economic im-
pact which we can curb provided that we understand the poiso- development by using nuclear techniques.
ning mechanisms and manage the risks”.
In partnership with the RAMOGE agreements, IAEA
Participants representing thirty countries from Africa, Asia-Pacific,
Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe welcomed the lively and organised workshops on toxic microalgae: risks for
varied dialogues, information shared and awareness needed in
all countries, even those without declared cases. Marie-Yasmine the environment, food and health and supervision
Dechraoui Bottein (IAEA) underlined the need to develop re- strategy, which took place during the second Monaco
search and development on this topic and to find cross-func-
tional solutions to an increasingly widespread phenomenon. Ocean Week. Marie-Yasmine Dechraoui-Bottein was
scientific and technical manager and provided an

argued summary.