Assessor Resource

SFIAQUA404C
Operate hatchery

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


The unit has application to hatchery production for aquaculture and ornamental sectors. The unit applies to personnel who have hatchery technical responsibilities and supervise the work of others. Skills in supervising and assessing the performance of staff are covered by AHCWRK403A Supervise work routines and staff performance.

The practical aspects of breeding and caring for progeny are covered in SFIAQUA314A Support hatchery operations.

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 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.

This unit of competency involves managing the hatchery production of stock. It covers organising and supervising staff, conveying information, selecting equipment and method of operation, and monitoring and reviewing operations.

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

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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:

collect and care for broodstock

breed and raise the progeny and prepare them for distribution

read and interpret work procedures

record relevant data according to workplace procedures.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:

breeding, nutritional, health and environmental requirements of broodstock and progeny.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment is to be conducted at the workplace or in a simulated work environment and should involve stock typically raised on aquaculture farms and hatcheries in the region.

Resources may include:

broodstock or seedstock

hatchery and equipment for caring for and raising progeny

monitoring equipment

staff to supervise in a hatchery environment

reference material for research purposes.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

project (work or scenario based)

case study analysis

research assignment

submission of records

written or oral short-answer testing.

Guidance information for assessment

This unit may be assessed holistically with AHCWRK403A Supervise work routines and staff performance, and other units within a qualification.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

communicating with production personnel on all aspects of hatchery production

assessing options for mechanisation or automation of process or activity, including the use of specialised contract services

contributing to enterprise strategy and planning meetings

efficiently carrying out care of broodstock, larvae and juveniles

handling and moving broodstock safely

manipulating culture environment, as appropriate

performing routine health care

supervising staff.

Literacy skills used for:

reading production plans and order requirements

researching and assessing information on innovations

recording information relating to hatchery operations

labelling containers for shipment

writing reports to management on hatchery operations.

Numeracy skills used for:

counting quantities of stock

maintaining and analysis of financial records

recording and interpreting data relating to water quality.

Required knowledge

cleaning and disinfection procedures and requirements for adequate disinfection

clinical signs of ovulation and/or imminent spawning

feed and other requirements of breeding stock and progeny

other environmental factors or cues for reproductive behaviour

preparation of broodstock and/or progeny for distribution.

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:

business or workplace operations, policies and practices:

commercial law, including fair trading and trade practices

consumer law

corporate law, including registration, licensing and financial reporting

disability policies and practices

equal opportunity, anti-discrimination and sexual harassment

industrial relations and awards, individual employment contracts and share of catch agreements

jurisdictional variations

superannuation

taxation

trade practices

warnings and dismissals

worker's compensation

ESD principles, environmental hazard identification, risk assessment and control

fisheries or aquaculture regulations, permits, licences, quotas, catch restrictions, and other compliance requirements, including:

Australian Exclusive Economic Zone

international treaties and agreements

food safety, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), hygiene and temperature control along chain of custody

imports quarantine and inspection, and importing approved arrangements for Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS), Australian Customs Service (ACS) and Biosecurity Australia (BA)

Indigenous native title, land claims and cultural activities, including fishing by traditional methods

maritime and occupational diving operations:

foreign and Australian legislation applying to quarantine and customs

International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)

International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW 1978)

Marine Emergency Response Search and Rescue (MERSAR)

National Standards for Commercial Vessels

pollution prevention - International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78)

Uniform Shipping Laws (USL) Code

use of vessels, right of way and other marine orders, bunkering and refuelling

land, buildings and vehicles:

buildings and structures design and appearance, constructions and additions

poaching, trespass and theft

road laws for use of motor vehicles, bikes, trucks and other transport equipment

soil and water management

use of chemicals and biological agents

use of firearms and powerheads

use of utilities, including water, natural gas, electricity and sewage

water or land lease, tenure or ownership and use

OHS hazard identification, risk assessment and control

product quality assurance:

correct naming and labelling (e.g. country of origin, Australian Fish Names Standard and eco-labelling)

correct quantities, sizes and other customer requirements

third-party certification (e.g. Australian Grown and ISO 14001:2004 Environmental management systems).

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.

ESD principles may include:

controlling use and recycling of water, and managing water quality and quantity

increasing use of renewable, recyclable and recoverable resources

managing environmental hazard identification, risk assessment and control

managing imported products quarantine and inspection, facility biosecurity, translocation of livestock and genetic material, and health certification

managing stock health and welfare, especially for handling, holding, transport and slaughter

managing sustainable fisheries or broodstock/seedstock collection requirements, such as size limits, quotas, season restrictions, population dynamics, fishing impacts, reducing by-catch, fisheries management strategies and maintaining biodiversity

managing, controlling and treating effluents, chemical residues, contaminants, wastes and pollution

minimising noise, dust, light or odour emissions

planning environmental and resource efficiency improvements

preventing genetically modified and live cultured or held organisms from escaping into environment

protecting native and protected flora and fauna, marine or land parks or areas, adhering to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), the Ramsar Convention, World Heritage and other international treaties for which Australia is a signatory

reducing emissions of greenhouse gases

reducing use of non-renewable resources

reducing disturbances to soils, erosion and surface water flows from machinery use and other activities

reducing energy use and introducing alternative energy sources.

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).

Quality requirements may include:

disease history

health and activity status

number, density, weight and volume

physical appearance, colour and appendages/fins

previous reproductive performance

sex

size

spawning condition and maturation index

wild caught or cultured stock.

Managed may include:

acclimatisation

cleaning or disinfection of culture equipment

condition or maturation activities

holding

monitoring or treating health

quarantine

spawning induction:

chemical

environmental, temperature, light, lunar cycle and atmospheric pressure

hormonal

special feed requirements

staging or assessing maturation and cannulation.

Progeny may include:

amphibian eggs, larvae or juveniles

aquatic plants or micro-algal cells, buds, seedlings and sporophytes

cell cultures

crustacean post-larvae or juveniles

finfish eyed eggs, fingerlings, fry, smolts or juveniles

molluscan larvae, seed, spat or juveniles

polyp colonies

reptile eggs, hatchlings or juveniles.

Quality assessment (of spawn) may include:

behaviour and activity

colour and shape

density

health, disease and/or prophylactic treatment history

number

uniformity.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Breeding objectives, selection aims and strategies are confirmed with management. 
Hatchery production schedule, labour and resource requirements and risk minimisation procedures are confirmed with production personnel. 
Selection of broodstock ensures quality requirements are met. 
Broodstock conditioning, spawning and recovery process are managed. 
Broodstock to be spawned again at a later date are identified and moved to holding tanks or areas. 
Progeny husbandry is managed to ensure high survival and growth or other selection criteria. 
Quality assessment of progeny is regularly undertaken and inferior progeny culled or removed. 
Progeny health is monitored and any parasite and/or disease outbreaks quickly controlled with samples being sent to relevant authorities, where required. 
Effects of feed and health treatments on progeny are monitored and actions taken to avoid or minimise health problems and negative effects on product quality. 
Progeny growth/development is monitored using an appropriate performance recording system and harvesting is undertaken to meet marketing goals. 
Breeding records are maintained according to industry standards and breeding program requirements. 
The progress of hatchery production plan is reviewed regularly with management. 
Physical and financial records are maintained for analysis and evaluation of hatchery performance. 
Information on innovations is obtained and assessed to determine relevance and possible application. 
Relevant innovations are tested to determine suitability and adaptability to individual circumstances, their benefit/cost assessed, and outcomes reported to the management team. 
Changes or improvements to breeding objectives, selection aims and strategies are regularly discussed with management team. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

SFIAQUA404C - Operate hatchery
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

SFIAQUA404C - Operate hatchery

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: