Bagnis,-R.; Bennett,-J.; Barsinas,-M.; Drollet,-J.H.; 
	Jacquet,-G.; Legrand,-A.M.; Cruchet,-P.H.; Pascal,-H.  
	Correlation between ciguateric fish and damage to reefs 
	in the Gambier Islands (French Polynesia).  PROCEEDINGS-
	OF-THE-SIXTH-INTERNATIONAL-CORAL-REEF-SYMPOSIUM,-
	TOWNSVILLE,-AUSTRALIA,-8th-12th-AUGUST-1988.-VOLUME-2:-
	CONTRIBUTED-PAPERS-MINI-SYMPOSIUM-1-TO-10-14. Choat,-
	J.H.;et-al.-eds.. 1988. pp. 195-200.

An investigation of the most severe outbreak of ciguatera 
ever reported was carried out during a 20 year study in 
Gambier Islands through the study of the species, trophic 
level and area of capture of poisonous fish, and the 
percentage of toxic individuals per batch of various control 
fish (PCI). The most frequently toxic fish from 1967 to 1975 
were the herbivores (mainly parrot fish, surgeon fish, and 
mullets). From 1976 to 1982, herbivorous and carnivorous fish 
shared the morbidity equally. From 1983, toxic carnivores 
(snappers, emperor, groupers, jacks mainly) were more often 
involved than herbivores. Within the same period, the average 
PCI increased from 4.5 for herbivores and 2 for carnivores in 
1969 to 67 (1975-1978) and 80 (1978-1979) respectively. From 
1980, the PCI decreased regularly, to below 20 for most of 
the fish in 1987. The distribution of toxic species varied 
strongly in space and time. A relationship between both man-
made and natural coral reef disturbances and the development 
of the flare up was pointed out.