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:

identify indicators of sub-optimal performance

identify viable stocks or determine productive grounds and water in response to information from various sources

keep all members of a team working efficiently and safely

maintain, adjust and position the vessel and gear during deployment, fishing and retrieval of components in order to optimise the catch

make adjustments to all aspects of fishing gear to optimise performance, if appropriate:

manoeuvre a vessel which is towing trawl gear along a predetermined route

manoeuvre a vessel which is deploying purse seine, beach seining or gill netting gear along a predetermined route

place a line at a predetermined position in the presence of a moderate current.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:

factors that indicate and determine fishing device operating efficiency, including for trawls:

over and under-spreading, satisfactory ground contact, gear symmetry and headline height.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

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

Resources may include:

operational vessel with access to stocks of appropriate target species

fishing gear and associated equipment.

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.

Required skills

adjusting gear components to improve performance

adjusting the speed and direction of the vessel to ensure the fishing device will attain a position determined by the fishing strategy

monitoring the nature and position of benthic features and potential catches from echo sounder data

using and repairing fishing gear

using small vessels (e.g. beach seines, mesh nets or gill nets).

Literacy skills used for:

interpreting gear plans

reading and recording data obtained from electronic detection equipment

reading tide tables.

Numeracy skills used for:

estimating the time taken for the fishing gear to reach a feature identified by the echo sounder on the vessel

reading and recording data obtained from electronic detection equipment.

Required knowledge

factors that determine optimal gear performance for beach seines, mesh nets or gill nets:

ballast and floatation

gear symmetry

headline height

mesh size, net material and hanging ratio

over- and under-spreading

satisfactory ground contact

factors that determine optimal gear performance for hand operated line, drop line and longline fishing gear:

gear dimensions and fishing depth

hook type

sequence, type and quality of bait and burley

factors that determine optimal gear performance for pots and traps:

bait

pot or trap construction

pot or trap covering material

satisfactory ground contact

factors that determine optimal gear performance for demersal fish and prawn trawls:

gear symmetry

headline height

otter board operating efficiency

over and under-spreading

satisfactory ground contact

fish behaviour

indicators of sub-optimal performance.

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

ESD principles, environmental hazard identification, risk assessment and control

fisheries or aquaculture regulations, permits and licences

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.

ESD principles may include:

applying animal welfare ethics and procedures

controlling effluents, chemical residues, contaminants, wastes and pollution

improving energy efficiency

increasing use of renewable, recyclable and recoverable resources

maintaining biodiversity by sustainable fisheries or broodstock/seedstock collection

minimising noise, dust, light or odour emissions

reducing emissions of greenhouse gases

reducing energy use

reducing use of non-renewable resources

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).

Fishing gear may include:

beach seines, mesh nets and gill nets

demersal fish and prawn trawls

drop line and longline fishing gear

hand operated line fishing gear, such as that used for handline fishing, trolling, squid jigging and rod and reel fishing

pots and traps

purse seines

traditional fishing methods, tools and equipment.

Beach seines, mesh nets or gill nets may include:

components:

connecting gear, such as knots, clips

ballast

by-catch reduction gear

flags, buoys and droppers

floatation gear

gear control and monitoring equipment

hangings

netting material

sweeps and bridles

dinghies

gill nets for:

estuarine species

sharks.

Demersal fish and prawn trawls may include:

components:

beam trawls

warps:

otter boards, such as towing brackets and back strops

sweeps and bridles

netting material

hangings

floatation gear

ground gear

by-catch reduction gear

lifting gear

cod-end closures (e.g. chain knot on fish trawls, drawstring knot on prawn trawls, zipper, hangman's knot and Dutch clip):

connecting gear (e.g. shackles, hammerlocks, chain, wires, ropes, Clevis pin connectors, G, C, D and sister clips)

prawn trawls:

banana prawn-type gear

tiger prawn-type gear.

Drop lines and longlines may include:

bottom set longlines

components:

bait

ballast

branch lines or snoods

by-catch reduction gear

connecting gear

detection gear (e.g. flag poles, lights, RADAR reflectors and radio transponders)

floats

hooks

main lines

retrieval gear

monofilament gear

rope gear

surface longlines:

tuna

other species

trot lines.

Hand operated lines may include:

components:

bait and burley

by-catch reduction gear

hand lines

hooks, jigs or lures

reels

rods

sinkers

nylon monofilament line

other fishing line

squid jigging machines

weighted hand lines mounted on a:

hand operated winch

hand reel

power operated winch

unweighted lines:

rod and reel

trolling gear.

Pots and traps may include:

bait and bait holding gear

ballast

bridles, toggles and lashings

by-catch reduction gear

components:

flag poles

dan buoys with lights, RADAR reflectors or radio transponders

floats

lines

pot or trap material and frame

crayfish pots

fish traps

octopus traps

Purse seines may include:

purse seines for catching:

bait

pilchards

salmon

tuna

components:

connecting gear (e.g. shackles, hammerlocks, chain, wires, ropes, Clevis pin connectors, G, C, D and sister clips)

floatation devices

ground gear

hangings and lashings

lifting gear

net skiff

overshoot rope and bridles, and heaving lines

purse rings or clips

purse rope

wire clamps.

Traditional fishing methods, tools or equipment may include:

baited woven fishing lines with bone or metal hooks

collection by hand

constructed/manipulated water bodies for aquaculture

free diving

harpoons or spears

modern equipment (e.g. powered vessels) can also be used to overcome OHS, animal welfare and other hazards

stick or brush hide traps

wooden rafts or canoes

wooden stick or rock fish traps

woven nets, pots or traps.

Criteria may include:

absence or breakage of gear components

amount of catch per unit of effort

amount of catch in comparison with other vessels

ease of deployment and retrieval

for beach seines and gill nets:

symmetry of sweeps, head ropes or foot ropes

for demersal fish and prawn trawls:

amount of debris in the net

asymmetry between nets or each side of a net

degree and character of polish on boards, sweep and ground gear

the symmetry of:

bridles

foot ropes

ground gear

head ropes

sweeps

warps

for purse seines:

shape of:

bridles

head ropes

foot ropes

pursing gear

for traps and pots, hand operated line fishing gear:

determining and monitoring tolerance to distortion of gear components, holes in gear material, and wear of gear components

quality of by-catch reduction gear and lifting gear

species composition of catch.

Factors may include:

depth

estuary condition

excessive by-catch

length of towing ground

moon phase

predators and other disturbances

proximity to appropriate fishing ground:

bait species

bottom growth

rock, sand, gravel or mud

steepness or flatness

proximity to hook-ups

proximity of other vessels

tides and current

season

swimming speed of target species

symmetry of vessel to gear when shooting, towing and hauling

water character:

fish feeding group and bait species

temperature, structure, colour and clarity

water mass or structures

weather

wind.

Monitored may include:

fish herding by 'splashing'

fishing device position in relation to target fishing site

ground contact

net hauling speed and direction

other vessels

time, distance and angle of gear to vessel

using electronic detection equipment, such as:

echo sounder

gear ranging equipment and displays

lights

net sonar or sounder

positioning systems

water temperature measuring and positioning device

vertical and horizontal dimensions of the gear

vertical and horizontal warp or rope angle

vessel towing speed and direction

visual and electronic position fixing methods.