Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency involves carrying out a range of basic work activities in an aquaculture, seafood holding or ornamental operation. The nature of the work activities will vary between aquaculture enterprises, and involve cultured or held stock 

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Application of the unit 

This unit is suitable for VET in schools pathways. Work is carried out under direct supervision.

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. Prepare for basic aquaculture activities 

1.1. Instructions, including work objectives , work procedures  and any occupational health and safety (OHS) considerations, are received from the supervisor and confirmed as understood.

1.2. Materials, tools  and any personal protective equipment  (PPE ) required for the activities are gathered and checked off against supervisor's instructions.

2. Carry out aquaculture activities

2.1. Work is carried out in accordance with the supervisor's instructions and work procedures.

2.2. Clarification of procedures and work objectives is sought from the supervisor should a non-standard situation or uncertainty on procedure or safety issue arise.

3. Clean up after aquaculture activities

3.1. Materials, tools and any PPE are cleaned, checked for obvious damage and returned to storage.

3.2. Verbal work report is given to the supervisor indicating work objectives achieved, any obvious damage to tools and PPE, abnormal stock behaviour and any other problems that may have arisen.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• clarifying instructions when not clearly understood
• following instructions
• providing oral reports to the supervisor
• using hand-held tools and basic repair materials.

Literacy skills used for :

• interpreting instructions, guidelines and work procedures
• interpreting schedules relating to feeding, grading or harvesting.

Numeracy skills used for :

• estimating duration of tasks and organising personal schedules
• recording and reporting data.

Required knowledge 

• basic requirements for survival and growth of aquatic organisms
• personal safety requirements
• purpose of, and principles for, the operation of basic hand-held tools
• work procedures for basic activities.

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:

• follow supervisor's instructions in carrying out basic activities that are typical of aquaculture, seafood holding or ornamental enterprises in the region.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:

• personal safety requirements in relation to a range of basic activities typically performed.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

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

Resources may include:

• equipment, material and PPE required to undertake activities
• supervisor.

Method of assessment 

The following assessment methods are suggested:

• observation of practical demonstration
• practical exercises.

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.

Cultured or held stock  may include:

• adults, broodstock (ready to breed), seedstock or stockers, eggs and sperm, fertilised eggs, larvae, post-larvae, seed, spat, hatchlings, yearlings, juveniles, fry, fingerlings, yearlings, smolt, sporophytes, seedlings and tissue cultures
• finfish, crustaceans, molluscs, aquatic reptiles, amphibians, polychaete and oligochaete worms, plankton, micro-algae, seaweed, aquatic plants, live rock, sponges and other aquatic invertebrates
• for human consumption (seafood), stockers for other farms, stockers for conservation or recreational fishing, display or companion animals (ornamentals), and other products, including pearls, skins, shells, eggs, chemicals and pigments
• wild caught, hatchery or nursery reared.

Basic aquaculture activities  may include:

• cleaning, drying out, untangling or carrying out minor construction on culture or holding structures and farm structures, such as:

• open, flow-through, closed and semi-closed systems
• dams, ponds and pools
• cages, pontoons, enclosures and pens, including associated moorings, floats, anchors and markers
• longlines, posts, racks and rails, rafts, fences, socks, trays, sticks, baskets, modules, barrels, bags and panels
• tanks, raceways and recirculating systems
• harvesting swimways, canals or channels
• live holding tanks, bins, cages and pens
• purging or depurating systems
• display tanks, aquaria and aquascapes
• grow out facilities, hatcheries and nurseries

• feeding stock
• manual activities:

• moving (e.g. materials and equipment)
• painting and stripping
• weeding, mowing and digging

• minor plant and equipment cleaning, maintenance and operation
• operating associated equipment or systems:

• water supply and disposal or effluent systems, including pumps, pipes, canals, channels, settlement ponds and storage dams
• blowers, aerators, paddlewheels and aspirators
• greenhouses, hothouses and igloos
• pest, predator and disease control structures

• stock handling and harvesting:

• collecting
• moving
• packing live and dead stock
• sorting and grading.

Work objectives  may include:

• standards expected, such as minimal stress and risk of injury to stock
• timeframe for completing the activity
• work outcomes.

Work procedures  may include:

• activity steps
• supervisor and supervisor's role
• tools, materials and PPE required for the activity.

Tools  may include:

• basic repair materials, such as glue and plumbers tape
• hand-held equipment.

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)
• non-slip and waterproof boots (gumboots) or other safety footwear
• personal locator beacon or Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)
• protective outdoor clothing for tropical conditions
• 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).

Unit Sector 

Aquaculture operations

Co-requisite units 

Competency field