Elements and Performance Criteria
- Collect and care for broodstock
- Hatchery production schedule is interpreted and confirmed with senior personnel.
- Labour and resource requirements for hatchery production are confirmed with senior personnel and arranged.
- Risk factors that could affect the quality of the end cultured or held stock progeny are identified and plans made to minimise risk.
- Broodstock structure or system is prepared to provide clean, disinfected and functional conditions for broodstock activities.
- Selected broodstock are introduced into broodstock structure or system with minimal stress.
- Both male and female broodstock are conditioned to induce maturation or breeding/spawning behaviour.
- Broodstock to be spawned are identified and moved to spawning tanks and undergo spawning induction treatment.
- Appropriate water quality requirements of broodstock are monitored and maintained.
- Breed and raise progeny
- Signs of imminent spawning are monitored and the environment controlled to ensure successful spawning.
- Spawn is collected, washed and counted and quality assessment of eggs and sperm is undertaken followed by fertilisation of the eggs, if appropriate.
- Post-spawning broodstock husbandry practices are undertaken, as appropriate.
- Fertilised eggs are hatched and cared for according to biological requirements.
- Rearing of subsequent progeny is monitored to ensure water quality and relevant environment needs are met by appropriate post-hatch rearing procedures.
- Harvest and distribute progeny
- Progeny are selected through quality assessment with senior personnel and harvested.
- Progeny for on-farm facility distribution are graded, sorted and/or transported to new culture or holding structures.
- Order requirements for off-farm facility distribution are noted, harvested and packed for external transport.
- Complete breeding clean up activities
- Clean up of work area, including repairs and storage of equipment, is completed and condition report prepared.
- Relevant breeding data, observations or information are recorded legibly and accurately, and any out of range or unusual records are checked.
- Compliance and other required reports are prepared and conveyed to senior personnel advising of the effectiveness of breeding, and recommendations made for improvements.
- Options for improving efficiency through mechanisation or automation of process or activity, or use of specialised contract staff are researched and presented to senior personnel as potential improvements
- Staff are given feedback on their work performance.