Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency involves maintaining and preparing drop line and longline fishing gear ready for deployment, and retrieving gear to the vessel. The unit also involves the initial aspects of handling seafood specific to line fishing operations.

Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this unit. Therefore it will be necessary to check with the relevant state or territory regulators for current licensing, legislative or regulatory requirements before undertaking this unit.

Application of the unit 

This unit has application to a deckhand on a fishing or fishing charter vessel.

All enterprise or workplace procedures and activities are carried out according to relevant government regulations , licensing and other compliance requirements , including occupational health and safety  (OHS ) guidelines , food safety and hygiene regulations and procedures  and ecologically sustainable development  (ESD ) principles .

Equipment operation, maintenance, repairs and calibrations are undertaken in a safe manner that conforms to manufacturer instructions. Appropriate personal protective equipment  (PPE ) is selected, checked, used and maintained.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Maintain drop lines and longlines ready for deployment

1.1. Drop lines  and longlines  are checked  against established criteria  according to vessel maintenance plan or instructions provided by a supervisor.

1.2. Drop line and longline components  which are worn, loose or blunt are identified and either reconditioned  or replaced.

1.3. Replacement drop line and longline components are ordered

1.4. Defective drop line and longline components are disposed of.

2. Deploy drop lines and longlines

2.1. Drop line and longline components are prepared and gathered ready for deployment.

2.2. Drop line and longline components are connected in the configuration required by the fishing method according to instructions from a supervisor.

2.3. Machinery  is used  to deploy the drop line and longline from the vessel according to instructions from supervisors.

2.4. Drop line and longline floats, dan poles and weights are deployed to ensure gear is not fouled.

2.5. Clips, branch lines and snoods are baited and connected to drop lines and longlines to minimise fouling and twisting according to instructions from supervisors.

2.6. Devices and systems are deployed to ensure operating efficiency and to reduce environmental impact and interaction with by-catch.

2.7. Drop line and longline storage area and containers are cleaned.

3. Retrieve drop lines and longlines

3.1. Floats and dan poles are gathered and secured.

3.2. Lines are applied to hauling devices and are loaded into containers for stowing according to supervisor's instructions.

3.3. Clips, branch lines and snoods are disconnected from lines and the catch is secured according to instructions from supervisor.

3.4. Drop lines and longlines are disconnected and stowed to ensure ease of deployment, the safety of crew and a safe working area.

4. Land, contain and sort the catch

4.1. Containment devices  are prepared  to receive the catch.

4.2. Catch is loaded into containment devices.

4.3. Catch is sorted  to maximise by-catch survival and seafood quality.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• assembling and dismantling connecting devices
• coiling and uncoiling lines
• ensuring gear is deployed untwisted
• repairing or replacing all worn gear components
• sorting catch
• stowing fishing gear
• using machinery to deploy and retrieve fishing gear.

Numeracy skills used for :

• measuring length or diameter.

Required knowledge 

• basic operating principle of drop lines and longlines
• factors that make components effective or defective
• order in which gear components are connected and disconnected
• principles that contribute to:

• personal, seafood and vessel hygiene
• environmental and resource protection
• workplace safety
• vessel stability.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit 

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

• handle and sort seafood with regard to food safety and hygiene, and food quality
• maintain and prepare drop line and longline fishing gear ready for deployment, and to retrieve the gear to the vessel
• prepare, deploy and retrieve common gear components
• renew and repair damaged gear components
• sort and contain the catch.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:

• criteria for assessing the quality of gear components
• order in which gear components are connected and disconnected
• principles of personal and vessel hygiene.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment is to be conducted at the workplace or in a simulated work environment.

Resources may include:

• fully operational drop line or longline fishing vessel with catch suitable for sorting.

Method of assessment 

The following assessment methods are suggested:

• observation of practical demonstration
• practical exercises
• project work
• written or oral short-answer testing.

Guidance information for assessment 

This unit may be assessed holistically with other units within a qualification.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Relevant government regulations , licensing and other compliance requirements  may include:

• biodiversity and genetically modified organisms
• biosecurity, translocation and quarantine
• Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) and other import requirements
• business or workplace operations, policies and practices
• correct marketing names and labelling
• ESD principles, environmental hazard identification, risk assessment and control
• fisheries or aquaculture regulations, permits and licences
• food safety, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), hygiene and temperature control along chain of custody
• Indigenous land rights and cultural activities, including fishing by traditional methods
• health and welfare of aquatic animals
• maritime and occupational diving operations, safety at sea and pollution control
• OHS hazard identification, risk assessment and control.

OHS guidelines  may include:

• appropriate workplace provision of first aid kits and fire extinguishers
• clean, uncluttered, hygienic workplace
• codes of practice, regulations and/or guidance notes which may apply in a jurisdiction or industry sector
• enterprise-specific OHS procedures, policies or standards
• hazard and risk assessment of workplace, maintenance activities and control measures
• induction or training of staff, contractors and visitors in relevant OHS procedures and/or requirements to allow them to carry out their duties in a safe manner
• OHS training register
• safe lifting, carrying and handling techniques, including manual handling, and the handling and storage of hazardous substances
• safe systems and procedures for outdoor work, including protection from solar radiation, fall protection, confined space entry and the protection of people in the workplace
• systems and procedures for the safe maintenance of property, machinery and equipment, including hydraulics and exposed moving parts
• the appropriate use, maintenance and storage of PPE.

Food safety and hygiene regulations and procedures  may include:

• Australian Shellfish Sanitation program
• display, packaging and sale of food, including seafood and aquatic products
• equipment design, use, cleaning and maintenance
• exporting requirements, including AQIS Export Control (Fish) orders
• handling and disposal of condemned or recalled seafood products
• HACCP and other risk minimisation systems
• location, construction and servicing of seafood premises
• people, product and place hygiene and sanitation requirements
• Primary Products Standard and the Australian Seafood Standard (voluntary)
• processing, further processing and preparation of food, including seafood and aquatic products
• product labelling, tracing and recall
• receipt, storage and transportation of food, including seafood and aquatic products
• requirements set out in Australian and New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) Food Standards Code
• temperature and contamination control along chain of custody.

ESD principles  may include:

• applying animal welfare ethics and procedures
• controlling effluents, chemical residues, contaminants, wastes and pollution
• controlling weeds, pests, predators and diseases, and stock health maintenance
• maintaining biodiversity by sustainable fisheries or broodstock/seedstock collection
• minimising noise, dust, light or odour emissions
• reducing energy use
• reducing interactions with native and protected flora and fauna, marine or land parks or areas
• reducing live cultured or held organisms from escaping into environment
• undertaking environmental hazard identification, risk assessment and control
• undertaking facility quarantine, biosecurity and translocation of livestock and genetic material
• using and recycling of water, and maintaining water quality.

PPE  may include:

• buoyancy vest or personal floatation device (PFD)
• gloves, mitts or gauntlets, and protective hand and arm covering
• hard hat or protective head covering
• hearing protection (e.g. ear plugs and ear muffs)
• insulated protective clothing for freezers or chillers and refrigeration units
• non-slip and waterproof boots (gumboots) or other safety footwear
• personal locator beacon or Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)
• protective eyewear, glasses and face mask
• protective hair, beard and boot covers
• protective outdoor clothing for tropical conditions
• respirator or face mask
• safety harness
• sun protection (e.g. sun hat, sunscreen and sunglasses)
• uniforms, overalls or protective clothing (e.g. mesh and waterproof aprons)
• waterproof clothing (e.g. wet weather gear and waders).

Drop lines and longlines  may include:

• bottom set longlines
• drop lines
• monofilament gear
• rope gear
• surface longlines:

• tuna
• other species

• trot lines

Drop lines and longlines are checked  for:

• broken, blunt or bent components
• by-catch reduction devices
• ropes for wear
• security of connecting devices, knots and lashings.

Criteria  may include:

• absence
• cracks
• distortion
• internal and external damage to rope
• looseness
• sharpness of hooks
• wear limit.

Components  may include:

• bait
• ballast
• branch lines or snoods
• by-catch reduction devices
• hooks
• detection devices:

• flag poles
• lights
• RADAR reflectors
• radio transponders

• connecting devices
• floats
• main lines
• retrieval devices.

Reconditioned  may include:

• bait replaced
• clips straightened
• connections re-tied, re-spliced or re-collared
• hooks sharpened
• lines coiled and uncoiled as required
• ropes re-spliced.

Machinery  may include:

• auto line systems
• deploying devices:

• line drum
• line shooter
• bait thrower
• line basket

• lifting gear:

• hydraulically operated crane
• mast and boom
• block and tackle

• retrieval devices:

• capstan
• line drum
• line hauler
• branch line coiler
• gaff
• play lines.

Used  may mean:

• fishing gear is connected to the machinery
• gear is guided onto machinery operated by other personnel
• machinery is operated under supervision.

Containment devices  may include:

• brine tanks:

• kill tanks
• ice slurry

• fish boxes:

• wash boxes
• exchangeable market boxes
• freezing cartons
• 'coffins'

• fish handling and sorting areas
• freshwater tanks
• ice rooms
• pounded deck areas.

Prepared  may mean:

• boxes sufficient for sorting are arranged ergonomically
• brine tank hatches arranged
• cleaned
• disinfected
• exchangeable market boxes are accounted for
• freezer carton liners applied
• freezing cartons assembled.

Sorted  may include:

• as by-catch
• as seafood for retention
• by legal length
• by sex:

• male or female
• sexual stage

• by size
• by species.

Unit sector 

Fishing operations

Co-requisite units 

Competency field