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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. |
A recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) is: | a system in which at least some of the water is recycled one or more times back into the system after some form of treatmentalso called a closed system (which is the opposite to a flow-through or open system where there is little residence time for the culture water)where a water exchange (replacement) rate of 5-10% per day is used to assist in maintaining water quality (particularly nitrate control)where generally some form of water treatment with equipment or structures, particularly aeration or oxygenation and processing of nitrogenous wastes, is undertaken. |
Relevant government regulations, licensing and other compliance requirements may include: | biodiversity and genetically modified organismsbiosecurity, translocation and quarantine business or workplace operations, policies and practicesenvironmental hazard identification, risk assessment and controlfood safety/Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), hygiene and temperature control along chain of custody, and Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) Export Control (Fish) ordershealth and welfare of aquatic animalsOHS hazard identification, risk assessment and control. |
OHS guidelines may include: | appropriate workplace provision of first aid kits and fire extinguishersclean, uncluttered, hygienic workplacecodes of practice, regulations and/or guidance notes which may apply in a jurisdiction or industry sectorenterprise-specific OHS procedures, policies or standardshazard and risk assessment of workplace, maintenance activities and control measuresinduction 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 registersafe lifting, carrying and handling techniques, including manual handling, and the handling and storage of hazardous substancessafe systems and procedures for outdoor work, including protection from solar radiation, fall protection, confined space entry and the protection of people in the workplacesystems and procedures for the safe maintenance of property, machinery and equipment, including hydraulics and exposed moving partsthe appropriate use, maintenance and storage of PPE. |
Food safety and hygiene regulations and procedures may include: | Australian Shellfish Sanitation programequipment design, use, cleaning and maintenance exporting requirements and AQIS Export Control (Fish) ordersHACCP, food safety program, and other risk minimisation and quality assurance systemslocation, construction and servicing of seafood premises people, product and place hygiene and sanitation requirementsPrimary Products Standard and the Australian Seafood Standard (voluntary) product labelling, tracing and recallreceipt, storage and transportation of food, including seafood and aquatic productsrequirements set out in Australian and New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) Food Standards Code and state and territory food regulationstemperature and contamination control along chain of custody. |
ESD principles may include: | applying animal welfare ethics and procedurescontrol of effluents, chemical residues, contaminants, wastes and pollution control of weeds, pests, predators and diseases, stock health maintenance improving energy efficiencyincreasing use of renewable, recyclable and recoverable resourcesminimising noise, dust, light or odour emissionspreventing live cultured or held organisms from escaping into environmentreducing emissions of greenhouse gasesreducing energy usereducing use of non-renewable resourcesundertaking environmental hazard identification, risk assessment and control undertaking facility quarantine, biosecurity and translocation of livestock and genetic materialusing and recycling water, and maintaining water quality. |
PPE may include: | hard hat or protective head covering hearing protection (e.g. ear plugs and ear muffs)non-slip and waterproof boots (gumboots) or other safety footwearprotective eyewear, glasses and face maskprotective hair, beard and boot coversuniforms, overalls or protective clothing (e.g. mesh and waterproof aprons). |
High technology water treatment components may include: | aeration or oxygenation equipment, such as aerators, aspirators, airlifts and fanscomponents that regulate environmental and climate control factors, such as temperature, photoperiod and light intensitydegassing systems for removing carbon dioxide and ozone, including the use of specialised air filtersfacilities and processes designed for health management such as quarantine area, sterilising using ultraviolet (UV) light and ozone, and pasteurising using heat or steammechanical/physical/solid, chemical and biological filtration devices (or a combination of two or more different types):biological filter:is part of an RAS where dissolved metabolic by-products are converted to less toxic forms by microbial action from a range of different bacteria, fungi and other microorganismsthe most important function is the oxidation of ammonia to nitrite, and nitrite to nitrate (often called nitrification)chemical filter:examples include activated carbon, zeolites and other ion-exchange mediumsis where a variety of chemical substances are used to treat water passing through themozone and chemical (e.g. pH and alkalinity) adjustments are also made, sometimes in a separate area to the chemical filtermechanical/physical/solid filter:includes swirl separators, hydrocones, protein skimmers or foam fractionators, drum filters, belt filters, bead and other suspended media filters and screen filtersis important to ensure organic loads going into biofilters are as low as possible to prevent the more competitive heterotrophic bacteria from taking over and reducing nitrification capacityis part of an RAS that removes solid organic matter and other wastesreduces the biological oxygen demand (BOD) for the systemsome degassing or carbon dioxide stripping can also take placewater treatment devices, such as those that maintain pH (acid/alkaline) balanceventilation systems, fans, blowers and humidifiers/ dehumidifiers. |
Work plan or schedule may include information on: | contingencies for responding to partial or full system shutdown, stock stress or mortalitiescontingency plan to address staffing and equipment supply problemscosts and budget detailsdate and time tasks are to be undertakendesignated jobs tasks, directions or designsenvironmental impact control measuresexpected time required to complete activitieshazard identification, risk assessment and risk control measureslocal, state, territory and federal government regulationslocationmaintenance schedule for particular items of equipmentmanufacturer guidelines or instructionsmaterials, supplies, tools, equipment or other resources requiredmonitoring and reporting requirements and procedures, including logs or checklistsnon-conformance or incident/fault reporting proceduresOHS procedures, including PPE requirementsorder of activitiesother members of work team and their roles, responsibilities and skillsperson in chargepre- and post-operational and safety checkspreferred supplier list and resources required by external workers and tradespeopleroutine maintenance proceduresspecific structures or componentsstandard for completed activities. |
Basic environmental parameters may include: | activity of pests, competitors, diseases and predatorslight levelsturbiditywater flowwater level or depth. |
Advanced environmental parameters may include: | changes in stocking density, size classes and gradeschemicals and biological agentsdiseases or stressful conditionsinappropriate system designinefficient feeding or poor quality feedsintense lighting or inappropriate light regimesloud or intermittent noisessource, quality and/or genetics of seed stocktoxic micro-algaewastes and contaminants. |
Water quality parameters may include: | alkalinityBODchlorine or chloraminesdissolved carbon dioxidedissolved oxygengeneral water hardnesslevel of nitrogenous wastes (e.g. ammonia, nitrite and nitrate), and contaminants and pollutantspH (acid/alkaline balance)phosphatesredox potentialsalinity or conductivitytemperaturetotal dissolved solids. |
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 culturesfinfish, crustaceans, molluscs, aquatic reptiles, amphibians, polychaete and oligochaete worms, plankton, micro-algae, seaweed, aquatic plants, live rock, sponges and other aquatic invertebratesfor 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 pigmentswild caught, hatchery or nursery reared. |
Contingency plans to address: | adverse weather conditions and acts of nature, such as flood or firebreakdown of componentsbypass of componentscompromised water sourcedisease outbreaksemergency proceduresnon-standard water quality parametersrisks to cultured or held stock during emergency shutdowns or breakdownsrisks to environmentrisks to infrastructure and equipmentrisks to product quality and food safety. |
Routine pre-operational checks and calibrations may include: | appropriate use of PPEchecking and confirming equipment calibration settings and operating methods for turbo-charged engineschecking for design problems or equipment modificationschecking for wear, corrosion and incorrect usechecking fuel, oils and lubricants, electrolyte levels, wheels, tyre pressure, fan belts, leads, lines, connections, air filters, brakes, clutch, gearbox, steering, lighting and transmissionidentifying and segregating unsafe or faulty equipment for repair or replacementinspecting safety guards, power take-off (PTO) stubs and shafts, and hitch and towing pointsobserving and monitoring noise levels for correct operationpreparing independently powered tools, which may include cleaning, priming, tightening, and basic repairs and adjustmentspre-start and safety checks, including the service and maintenance of cooling system. |
Other aquaculture equipment and infrastructure may include: | alarm and monitoring systems, including loss of pressure, burglar, loss of electricity and critical parameterscounters and microscopes, pipettes and syringes, measuring cylinders and dissecting kitseffluent and waste disposal, such as sewage, septic and compost pitsheating or cooling systems, such as heat exchange equipment, geothermal, gas, hydro, electric and solar (can also include insulated buildings and greenhouses)husbandry equipment, such as graders, feeders, fish pumps, nets, fish bins and transporterslighting, such as skylights, fluorescent, incandescent, metal halide and mercury vapourpipes and reticulation systems, including siphons, both for supply and disposalpumps:centrifugalmagnetic drivepressuresubmersibleperistaltic or dosingairliftpistonhydraulic ram or helical driveaxialscrew pumpregenerative turbineventuriself-priming or non-primingsludge or surgepowered by:diesel or petrolelectricity (single or 3-phase)cablehydraulicssolarwindbatterypneumatic or air drivenwater quality test equipment, including pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature and salinitywashing, disinfecting and sterilising equipment (e.g. autoclaves). |
Culture or holding structures or systems may include: | display tanks, aquaria and aquascapes (ornamental industry)grow out facilities, hatcheries and nurseriesharvested stock holding structures, tanks, bins and cageslive holding systemspest, predator and disease control structurespurging or depurating systemtanks, raceways and RASwater supply and disposal systems for closed and semi-closed systems. |
Abnormal or non-standard conditions may include: | critical flow rates down due to obstructions or damage to lines or pipescritical water quality parameters outside safe operating conditionsmoving parts making unusual noises or movement being hamperedplant or equipment failure resulting in leaks or non-operation of systempower not on, water not flowing or aeration offsmoke, fumes or other emissionssparks or obvious signs of electrical shortsstock showing signs of stress, such as:aggression or cannibalismcolour changes gasping at surfacelesions or other signs of damage to skinnot feedingno reproduction or courtshippiping, darting, flashing or whirling movementschooling activityswimming or moving erraticallywater levels too high or low in culture system. |
Adjustments to operating components may include: | alkalinity additionback-flushing or changing of filtersbiofilter start-up and maintenancechanges in light and dark regimesdegassingdigital or analog control systemsfoam fractionator or protein skimmerheating or coolingmanaging shock-loadingmanual or computer controlledUV or ozone systemswater or air flow changes. |
Enterprise requirements may include: | enterprise policies and procedures, including those relevant to waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelinesindustry standards or codes of practiceMSDSOHS proceduresoperations or maintenance manualsproduct labels, manufacturer specifications or guidelinesproduction schedulesstandard operating procedures (SOPs)supervisor oral or written instructionswork and routine maintenance planswork notes. |
Worn or damaged parts or areas may include: | depth and flow gauges and electronic monitorsfittings (e.g. joints, valves and boards)flow control devices (e.g. taps, valves, float valves, monks, dykes, weirs and gates)mechanical components in treatment structures (e.g. sieves, filters and aerators)mechanical, chemical and biological filterspipespumps and mechanical componentssides or bottoms of earthen, concrete, fibreglass or plastic-lined supply and disposal systems or structureswood or metal structures. |
Work area may include: | depotshatchery, nursery, grow out and holding facilitieslaboratoriespost-harvest or processing facilitiesstaff amenitiesstock and quarantine treatment facilitiesstorage areasworkshops. |
Operation, monitoring and maintenance data may include: | checklists, data sheets, inventory and stocktakesdates, times and progress against timelines of activities or eventsdetails related to culture or holding structures or systemsoperation and maintenance details and other outcomes achievedpersonnel and subcontractor performance dataproblems experienced and strategies to overcome them. |
Reports may include: | electronic or hard copygraphs and charts, including Gantt charts and tablesKPIs. |