2014 • 26' • French
Director(s): Pierre De Nicola • Producer(s): Grand Angle Productions & Bleu Lagon Productions • Coproducer(s): France Télévisions • Format(s): HD
A group of scientists travels to Taomotu to check for the presence of Gambierdiscus Toxicus. This microscopic alga is the cause of Ciguatera, a food poisoning syndrome that is well known in the Pacific.
The Tuamotu Archipelago is one of the main suppliers of fish eaten on Tahiti and for some time now the number of Ciguatera type cases of poisoning has appeared to be increasing. Extremely concerned for the quality of their wares and anxious over the security of the supply chain, the fishermen sounded the alarm in Papeete. They reported the problem to the Louis Malardé Institute, a world leader in research into marine toxins. Our scientists scour the lagoon, take samples of alga and of fish for analysis. They also gather evidence from locals on their knowledge of the phenomenon and their means of curing it.