SFIAQUA209C
Manipulate stock culture environment

This unit of competency involves manipulating the stock culture or holding environment to optimise growing or holding conditions on an aquaculture or ornamental facility. It covers interpreting instructions, using basic equipment appropriately and recording results and observations. Monitoring of stock and environmental conditions is covered in SFIAQUA213C Monitor stock and environmental conditions. Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this unit. Therefore it will be necessary to check with the relevant state or territory regulators for current licensing, legislative or regulatory requirements before undertaking.

Application

Licences may be required if operating:

load-shifting equipment, including forklifts

vehicles

vessels.

All enterprise or workplace procedures and activities are carried out according to relevant government regulations, licensing and other compliance requirements, including occupational health and safety (OHS) guidelines and ecologically sustainable development (ESD) principles.

Equipment operation, maintenance, repairs and calibrations are undertaken in a safe manner that conforms to manufacturer instructions. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is selected, checked, used and maintained.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare for manipulation of culture or holding environment

1.1. Options for manipulating culture or holding environment and contingency plans are confirmed with supervisor.

1.2. Required water treatment equipment is collected and checked for serviceability, repaired and calibrated if necessary.

1.3. Water treatment equipment is moved to site, positioned in relation to culture or holding structure and readied for use.

1.4. Water and weather conditions are observed and conditions which could adversely impact on the wellbeing of stock are reported to supervisor.

2. Manipulate culture or holding environment

2.1. Water treatment equipment is operated correctly.

2.2. Stock holding structures or culture environments are adjusted to suit stock.

2.3. Basic water quality and environmental factors are re-checked and noted against requirements for stock.

2.4. Stock behaviour is observed and abnormal activity reported to supervisor.

2.5. Work practices are employed to minimise stock stress or damage.

2.6. Automatic or mechanised equipment is operated and maintained.

3. Complete post-environment manipulation activities

3.1. Clean up of work area, including repairs and storage of equipment, is supervised, and condition report prepared.

3.2. Relevant environment manipulation data, observations or information are recorded legibly and accurately, and any out of range or unusual records checked.

3.3. Compliance and other required reports are prepared and conveyed to senior personnel advising of the effectiveness of environment manipulation, and recommendations made for improvements.

3.4. Feedback on own work performance is sought from supervisor and opportunities to improve identified.

Required Skills

Required skills

communicating with supervisor on options for manipulating the culture environment and contingency plans

communicating ideas on possible improvements

operating and calibrating water treatment equipment

providing oral reports and written records to supervisor on operation effectiveness and any irregularities

recognising normal and gross abnormal stock behaviour.

Literacy skills used for:

interpreting workplace documents and equipment according to manufacturer guidelines

recording contingency plans and water treatment options used.

Numeracy skills used for:

basic calculations used in altering culture environment

reading machines, meters or test kits when making adjustments to culture environment or calibrating equipment.

Required knowledge

basic water quality tests to be undertaken

effects of farm wastes/effluent on environment

effects of water and weather conditions on stock and OHS of employees

methods for culture environment manipulation

normal and abnormal stock behaviour

operation and maintenance of automatic or mechanised equipment

options for manipulating the culture environment

significance of basic water quality factors and environmental (e.g. weather) factors on stock health and wellbeing

water treatment equipment maintenance and repairs

water treatment equipment operating methods.

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:

manipulate the environment within the stock culture or holding structure according to supervisor instructions and enterprise procedures, and ensure stock are reared in optimal conditions.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:

calibrating, testing and monitoring procedures

obvious signs of ill health or abnormal behaviour in stock

water quality and environmental factors that can affect stock

water treatment equipment operation consistent with work procedures and manufacturer guidelines.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment is to be conducted at the workplace or in a simulated work environment. It is best assessed over a period of time so that adjustments are made in response to a range of water quality and environmental factors typically impacting on aquaculture enterprises in the region.

Resources may include:

culture species environmental requirements and water quality factors

culture structures with/in water containing stock

data sheets for recording information on adjustments to culture environments

water treatment equipment, enterprise procedures and manufacturer guidelines for operation

work procedures for manipulating stock culture environment.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

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.


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.

Relevant government regulations, licensing and other compliance requirements may include:

biosecurity, translocation and quarantine

environmental hazard identification, risk assessment and control

health and welfare of aquatic animals

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

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

control of effluents, chemical residues, contaminants, wastes and pollution

control of weeds, pests, predators and diseases, and stock health maintenance

improving energy efficiency

increasing use of renewable, recyclable and recoverable resources

minimising noise, dust, light or odour emissions

preventing live cultured or held organisms from escaping into environment

reducing emissions of greenhouse gases

reducing energy use

reducing use of non-renewable resources

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)

hard hat or protective head covering

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).

Culture or holding environment may include:

associated equipment or systems, such as:

blowers, aerators, paddlewheels and aspirators

greenhouses, hothouses and igloos

pest, predator and disease control structures

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

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

dams, ponds and pools

display tanks, aquaria and aquascapes

grow out facilities, hatcheries and nurseries

harvesting swimways, canals or channels

live holding tanks, bins, cages and pens

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

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

purging or depurating systems

tanks, raceways and recirculating systems.

Options may include:

change water flow rates and exchange water

drain and dry out floor

lower stock density or harvest stock

reduce feeding

remove wastes

move stock or culture structure to new location

rake sediments

treat incoming or culture water:

aeration

dissolved oxygen

fertilisers and chemicals

filtration

hardness

pH

salinity

temperature

turbidity.

Contingency plans may include:

changing weather conditions

contaminants or pollutants

equipment failures or damage

pest, predator or disease infestations

power failure

stock escapes

stock mortalities.

Water treatment equipment may include:

activated carbon

aerators, aspirators and airlifts

chlorine or other chemicals

fertiliser or lime spreaders

filtration:

mechanical

biofilter

chemical

foam fractionator

pasteurisation

pumps, siphons, blowers and fans

ultraviolet (UV) or ozone sterilisation.

Repaired may include:

change of test chemicals and solutions

cleaning or replacement of probes

replacement of cables.

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 water quality factors may include:

alkalinity

ammonia nitrites

carbon dioxide

dissolved oxygen

hardness

nitrate and other nitrogenous products

pH

salinity or conductivity

temperature

turbidity.

Environmental factors may include:

activity of pests and predators

climatic conditions (e.g. rainfall, amount of cloud cover, and wind direction and speed)

contaminants

light

natural foods

tidal or water flow direction and speed

wave size and direction.

Stock behaviour may include:

aggression or cannibalism

colour changes

feeding

piping, darting, flashing or whirling movement

reproduction or courtship

schooling or individuals

swimming.


Sectors

Unit sector

Aquaculture operations


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Refer to Unit Descriptor