Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to design or upgrade a recirculating aquaculture system. It requires the ability to determine system requirements, define budgets, infrastructure and labour requirements, and finalise the design.
This unit applies to individuals who have specialised knowledge and technical and/or management responsibility for setting up, reviewing or modifying a recirculating aquaculture system to suit changing circumstances.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements | Performance Criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Determine system requirements | 1.1 Define specific water quality and environmental parameters required by stock 1.2 Determine optimum number and sizes of culture or holding systems required to achieve stocking and harvest objectives 1.3 Identify types of recirculating aquaculture systems that would provide the appropriate environment for cultured or held stock 1.4 Research mechanisation or automation of process or activity, including the use of specialised contract services |
2. Define system inputs and outputs | 2.1 Document design or upgrade specifications and decisions into plans, specifications, procedure manuals and records or reports 2.2 Draw up work plans or schedules in consultation with senior personnel, taking budgeting, planning and operational requirements into consideration 2.3 Design, locate and orientate culture or holding structures or systems to conserve natural resources 2.4 Organise independent or specialist verification of design output against workplace objectives 2.5 Develop a construction plan according to accepted design principles and workplace requirements 2.6 Evaluate own and work team knowledge and skills against construction plan and work schedules to determine the need for external expertise or assistance |
3. Determine capital expense budget | 3.1 Determine and document materials, resource and supply provision requirements, including contingency options, from work plans, schedules and specifications 3.2 Document estimated labour requirements based upon documented work plans or schedules, allowing for variances 3.3 Negotiate and confirm external labour and hire equipment contracts with management, if required 3.4 Attribute costs based upon quoted information from suppliers to each component 3.5 Allow for contingencies for supply of materials, equipment and services in budget |
4. Determine operating expense budget | 4.1 Determine operating expense budget, indicating all input and output expenses for proposed system, including commissioning or start-up costs 4.2 Incorporate a break-even analysis and a sensitivity analysis of effects of changes in input and output costs in budget 4.3 Allow for contingencies for low or lost production in budget |
5. Review and finalise system design and budgets | 5.1 Finalise selection of individual and combined components to provide optimal conditions for stock, and reliable and flexible systems for intended production inputs and culture or holding activities 5.2 Review, update and finalise work plans or schedules, design specifications, construction plan or commissioning or start-up procedures 5.3 Review budgets for capital and operating expenses and revise, as required, to meet changing circumstances 5.4 Examine relationship between capital and operating costs, including a review of alternative water and energy sources 5.5 Benchmark work plans or schedules, design specifications and system inputs and outputs against appropriate existing operations 5.6 Review overall operation and output of proposed system to ensure that it meets the long-term directions and purposes of the business and is economically sustainable |
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential for performance in this unit of competency but are not explicit in the performance criteria.
Skill | Description |
Reading | Researches and extracts technical information relating to recirculating aquaculture systems from a range of sources Interprets and analyses documentation relating to water and energy efficiency and environmental and biological requirements of the cultured or held stock Interprets business plans, specifications and drawings, equipment operation manuals and contracts |
Writing | Produces technical specifications, plans and drawings Maintains operational and financial records |
Numeracy | Quantifies resource requirements and calculates costs associated with recirculating aquaculture systems Analyses financial information in budgets Applies formulae to determine flows, pump efficiency, dissolved oxygen and water requirements, and volumes and quantities of inputs and outputs of liquids, gases and solids |
Oral communication | Participates in verbal exchanges to explain information clearly using technical terminology and language appropriate for the audience |
Navigate the world of work | Understands and checks compliance against regulatory requirements, including safety and environmental requirements, relating to own role and area of responsibility |
Get the work done | Plans and coordinates multiple, complex activities and resources related to forward planning and risk management; continuously monitoring actions against budget and specification parameters Uses key features and functions of workplace digital systems and tools to access, organise and analyse costs, data and information relevant to recirculating aquaculture systems |
Sectors
Aquaculture (AQU)