Task Team on a Global Inter-Agency Ciguatera Strategy for Improved Research and Management

Terms of Reference:

  • Interact with IOC, FAO, IAEA and WHO to pursue and strengthen the concertation of their respective actions in support of the Global Ciguatera Strategy,
  • Pursue coordination activities to develop and strengthen synergies through the cooperation of currently funded efforts in support of the Ciguatera Strategy (other than international agencies),
  • Evaluate the methods used for isolating and culturing benthic HAB organisms (bHABs). Convene a meeting of experts to establish protocols and a training course for the isolation and culturing of bHABs, with the aim of enhancing proficiency and representing the natural diversity present in the field. Additionally, provide financial support for conducting inter-laboratory exercises on bHAB collection techniques, standardizing methods, and facilitating trans-regional studies.
  • Pursue communication activities (including Harmful Algal News) and update the existing IOC web page on ciguatera displaying the strategy (e.g. relevant links)
  • Interact with ICHA organizers to solicit presentations on ciguatera research and stimulate the convening of special ciguatera sessions at relevant medical, seafood safety and security, and other scientific meetings,
  • Contribute to the HAB Solution (HAB-S) UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development proposal to integrate the Ciguatera Strategy into integrated and co-developed mitigation solutions for reducing ciguatera poisoning,

Urges the relevant Member State agencies to provide financial support for the implementation of the strategy, including funding for the aforementioned activities, as well as for research and capacity building necessary to monitor Ciguatera-causing organisms, toxins, contaminated seafood, and conduct human health studies aimed at identifying and minimizing the risks associated with benthic HABs;

Invites scientific organisations, institutions and international bodies to:

-consider supporting the further development of the scientific aspects and research priorities of the strategy; in particular to develop research toward establishing a solid link between algal toxins and fish toxicity in the Atlantic and Indian oceans for enhanced early surveillance and early warning of ciguatera; to prepare fish tissue reference material;

-provide the support needed for countries to maintain or further entries into the OBIS, HAEDAT and INFOSAN databases on worldwide occurrence reports of Gambierdiscus/Fukuyoa spp and ciguatera events;

-conduct method validation exercises as well as inter-laboratory exercises on benthic HAB collection methods;

-conduct projects toward deriving acute reference dose for CTXs to support risk managers in defining guideline values for CTXs;

Requests that the FAO Secretariat make the CODEX Committee on Contaminants in Food (CCCF) and other relevant committees aware that IPHAB prioritizes efforts on Ciguatera;

Decides that the Task Team will comprise M. Chinain (France/French Polynesia) as co-chair, P. Hess (France) as co-chair, Lafi S. Al Sulami (Saudi Arabia). The Task Team is supplemented by experts M.Y. Dechraoui Bottein (Morocco) co-chair, E. Núñez Vázquez (Mexico) and will be expanded, as required, to fulfill the terms of reference;

Notes that the Task Team will continue its work until otherwise decided by the Panel and that it will work by correspondence and/or meet on an opportunistic basis, and provide a progress report to the Chair of IPHAB prior to IPHAB-XVII.

 

Contact : 

Mireille Chinain, Directrice du Laboratoire des Biotoxines Marines, mchinain@ilm.pf