SFIAQUA214B
Produce algal or live-feed cultures

This unit of competency involves routinely establishing, producing and harvesting algal or live-feed cultures according to facility work procedures. It covers interpreting instructions, using equipment appropriately and making general observations. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Application

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 production

1.1. Requirements of the algae or live-feed cultureproduction schedule are noted and confirmed with supervisor.

1.2. Production vessel or structure and other equipment are collected and checked for serviceability.

1.3. Sub-standard equipment is repaired or replaced according to manufacturer guidelines.

1.4. Hygiene precautions and axenic culture techniques are undertaken.

2. Initiate and maintain cultures

2.1. Production vessel is filled with treated water.

2.2. Inoculation cultures and nutriments are added.

2.3. Physio-chemical requirements of the culture organism are maintained for the culture period.

2.4. Indicators of culture health are monitored and irregularities are reported to the supervisor.

2.5. Wastes are removed and water levels are maintained.

2.6. Hygienic growing conditions are provided, minimising the risk of contamination.

2.7. Automatic or mechanised equipment are operated and maintained according to work procedures.

3. Harvest culture

3.1. Harvesting equipment is collected and checked for serviceability.

3.2. Required quantity is harvested and transferred to be fed to predator species.

3.3. Collection vessels are cleaned and sanitised before and after use.

4. Complete post-culture production activities

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

4.2. Relevant culture production data, observations or information are recorded legibly and accurately, and any out of range or unusual records checked.

4.3. Compliance and other required reports are prepared and conveyed to senior personnel advising of the effectiveness of culture production, and recommendations made for improvements.

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

Required Skills

Required skills

adding inoculation cultures and nutriments to production vessels according to enterprise procedures

communicating with supervisor on production activities and on own performance

communicating ideas on possible improvements

harvesting algal or live-feed cultures

maintaining axenic transfer of parent cultures

operating and maintaining production and harvest equipment

providing oral reports to supervisor on algal or live-feed production

recognising and reporting on obvious problems associated with the culture-growing environment and culture health

removing waste and maintaining water levels according to enterprise procedures

using a microscope to examine culture for signs of health.

Literacy skills used for:

interpreting manufacturer guidelines

interpreting production schedules and labels

recording workplace data related to the production of algal or live-feed cultures

interpreting warning and safety signs.

Numeracy skills used for:

calculating culture periods

counting or determining density of algal or live-feed culture organisms

diluting to reach desired salinity

estimating weight of small quantities of chemicals

measuring chemical volumes and weights for sanitation

reading gauges and meters.

Required knowledge

culture periods and life cycles of culture organisms

ESD principles

operation and maintenance of automatic or mechanised equipment

physio-chemical requirements of the culture organisms

procedures for producing and harvesting algal or live-feed cultures

purpose of, and operating procedures for, algal or live-feed culture production and harvest equipment

purpose of nutriments.

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 work procedures and supervisor's instructions for the production process

produce algal or live-feed cultures under routine conditions.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:

basic process for effective production of algal or live-feed cultures, including setting up, initiating and breeding, monitoring health and growth, harvesting and cleaning up activities.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment is to be conducted at the workplace or in a simulated work environment. It should cover the entire process of production, from establishing the culture through to harvesting.

Resources may include:

inoculation cultures and nutriments

production schedule

production vessels

production and harvest equipment

records for documenting algal or live-feed culture production

treated water

work procedures for producing algal or live-feed cultures.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

practical demonstration

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:

biodiversity and genetically modified organisms

biosecurity, translocation and quarantine

business or workplace operations, policies and practices

environmental hazard identification, risk assessment and control

OHS hazard identification, risk assessment and control.

OHS guidelines may include:

appropriate workplace provision of first aid kits and fire extinguishers

clean, uncluttered, hygienic workplace

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:

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

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 energy use

reducing emissions of greenhouse gases

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:

hard hat or protective head covering

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

protective eyewear, glasses and face mask

uniforms, overalls or protective clothing (e.g. mesh and waterproof aprons).

Algae or live-feed culture may include:

aquatic plants

brine shrimp (Artemia and Parartemia)

copepods

Daphnia

feeder fish, usually goldfish or other inexpensive fish (check state/territory animal welfare laws)

infusions and bio-fouling

inoculation or starter culture, usually an axenic monoculture

micro-algae and seaweed (various species)

mosquitoes, beetles or other insect (adult or larvae)

nematodes

polychaetes, oligochaetes and other worms

rotifers

zooplankton.

Production schedule may include:

culture method to be used:

batch

semi-continuous

continuous

enrichment of natural waters

production vessel or structure to be used

quality, including bacteria free, growth rate, size and age

quantities (i.e. cells/ml, organisms/ml) or weights

types of cultures, including species, sizes and ages

written instructions and work procedures.

Production vessel or structure may include:

concrete or earthen ponds

fibreglass or plastic tanks

glassware

plastic bags

plastic-lined pools.

Other equipment may include:

aeration

air filters

autoclave

bottle plugs

counters and microscopes

flexible tubing

greenhouses or hothouses

lights

measuring cylinders

pipettes and syringes

production vessel holder

temperature-controlled room

washing and sterilising equipment

water filtration equipment.

Treated water may include:

aeration

chemical (e.g. change pH and hardness)

chlorination and de-chlorination

heating or cooling

micro-filtration

pre-conditioning (e.g. left to stand with or without aeration)

ultraviolet (UV) and ozone.

Nutriments may include:

feeds, including micro-algae, pellets, powders and emulsions

enrichment formulae

green water

nutrients, fertilisers or other chemicals.

Physio-chemical requirements of the culture organism may include:

carbon dioxide

chemical, mechanical or biological filtration

dissolved oxygen

hardness

light

nitrogenous wastes and contaminants

pH

salinity

temperature

water flow.

Culture period may include:

one to several days for brine shrimp

several weeks for micro-algae.

Indicators of culture health may include:

colour

contaminants, including ciliates, males in rotifer cultures and unwanted species in micro-algal cultures

density of organisms (i.e. numbers per litre or millilitre)

feeding activity

flocculation of culture medium

growth

physical appearance

swimming activity.

Wastes may include:

dead or dying organisms

other contaminants, including soil and organic debris

uneaten nutriments.

Harvesting equipment may include:

collection vessels

continuous centrifuge

counters

live feeds:

buckets

nets, sieves or screens (mesh size generally below 100/mm)

micro-algal:

buckets

pumps

siphons

pipettes and measuring cylinders

washing sieves.


Sectors

Unit sector

Aquaculture operations


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Refer to Unit Descriptor