SFIAQUA102B
Carry out basic aquaculture activities

This unit of competency involves carrying out a range of basic work activities in an aquaculture, seafood holding or ornamental operation. The nature of the work activities will vary between aquaculture enterprises, and involve cultured or held stockNo licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Application

This unit is suitable for VET in schools pathways. Work is carried out under direct supervision.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare for basic aquaculture activities

1.1. Instructions, including work objectives, work procedures and any occupational health and safety (OHS) considerations, are received from the supervisor and confirmed as understood.

1.2. Materials, tools and any personal protective equipment (PPE) required for the activities are gathered and checked off against supervisor's instructions.

2. Carry out aquaculture activities

2.1. Work is carried out in accordance with the supervisor's instructions and work procedures.

2.2. Clarification of procedures and work objectives is sought from the supervisor should a non-standard situation or uncertainty on procedure or safety issue arise.

3. Clean up after aquaculture activities

3.1. Materials, tools and any PPE are cleaned, checked for obvious damage and returned to storage.

3.2. Verbal work report is given to the supervisor indicating work objectives achieved, any obvious damage to tools and PPE, abnormal stock behaviour and any other problems that may have arisen.

Required Skills

Required skills

clarifying instructions when not clearly understood

following instructions

providing oral reports to the supervisor

using hand-held tools and basic repair materials.

Literacy skills used for:

interpreting instructions, guidelines and work procedures

interpreting schedules relating to feeding, grading or harvesting.

Numeracy skills used for:

estimating duration of tasks and organising personal schedules

recording and reporting data.

Required knowledge

basic requirements for survival and growth of aquatic organisms

personal safety requirements

purpose of, and principles for, the operation of basic hand-held tools

work procedures for basic activities.

Evidence Required

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:

follow supervisor's instructions in carrying out basic activities that are typical of aquaculture, seafood holding or ornamental enterprises in the region.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:

personal safety requirements in relation to a range of basic activities typically performed.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

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

Resources may include:

equipment, material and PPE required to undertake activities

supervisor.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

observation of practical demonstration

practical exercises.

Guidance information for assessment

This unit may be assessed holistically with other units within a qualification.


Range Statement

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.

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 cultures

finfish, crustaceans, molluscs, aquatic reptiles, amphibians, polychaete and oligochaete worms, plankton, micro-algae, seaweed, aquatic plants, live rock, sponges and other aquatic invertebrates

for 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 pigments

wild caught, hatchery or nursery reared.

Basic aquaculture activities may include:

cleaning, drying out, untangling or carrying out minor construction on culture or holding structures and farm structures, such as:

open, flow-through, closed and semi-closed systems

dams, ponds and pools

cages, pontoons, enclosures and pens, including associated moorings, floats, anchors and markers

longlines, posts, racks and rails, rafts, fences, socks, trays, sticks, baskets, modules, barrels, bags and panels

tanks, raceways and recirculating systems

harvesting swimways, canals or channels

live holding tanks, bins, cages and pens

purging or depurating systems

display tanks, aquaria and aquascapes

grow out facilities, hatcheries and nurseries

feeding stock

manual activities:

moving (e.g. materials and equipment)

painting and stripping

weeding, mowing and digging

minor plant and equipment cleaning, maintenance and operation

operating associated equipment or systems:

water supply and disposal or effluent systems, including pumps, pipes, canals, channels, settlement ponds and storage dams

blowers, aerators, paddlewheels and aspirators

greenhouses, hothouses and igloos

pest, predator and disease control structures

stock handling and harvesting:

collecting

moving

packing live and dead stock

sorting and grading.

Work objectives may include:

standards expected, such as minimal stress and risk of injury to stock

timeframe for completing the activity

work outcomes.

Work procedures may include:

activity steps

supervisor and supervisor's role

tools, materials and PPE required for the activity.

Tools may include:

basic repair materials, such as glue and plumbers tape

hand-held equipment.

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)

non-slip and waterproof boots (gumboots) or other safety footwear

personal locator beacon or Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)

protective outdoor clothing for tropical conditions

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).


Sectors

Unit Sector

Aquaculture operations


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Refer to Unit Descriptor