Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to maintain and prepare demersal or mid-water fish or prawn trawls ready for deployment and retrieving the gear to the vessel. It includes the ability to check equipment, connect and configure components, use machinery and equipment to deploy and retrieve trawls, load catch and undertake initial seafood handling specific to trawling operations.
This unit applies to individuals who work as deckhands on a fishing trawler and undertake routine trawl fishing operations under the direction of a supervisor.
All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, according to state/territory health and safety, food safety, biosecurity and environmental regulations, legislation and standards that apply to the workplace.
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. Maintain trawls ready for deployment | 1.1 Check trawl against the vessel maintenance plan and supervisor instructions 1.2 Identify and report defective and replacement trawl components to supervisor 1.3 Recondition or repair defective components according to supervisor instructions 1.4 Dispose of defective trawl components according to workplace requirements |
2. Deploy trawls | 2.1 Connect trawl components in the configuration according to fishing method and supervisor instructions 2.2 Use machinery to deploy the trawls from the vessel according to supervisor instructions 2.3 Deploy trawl, ensuring it is not twisted or fouled 2.4 Deploy devices and systems, ensuring operating efficiency and environmental impact and interaction with by-catch are minimised |
3. Retrieve trawls | 3.1 Guide trawls onto winches according to supervisor instructions 3.2 Haul ropes using capstans and gilson winches according to supervisor instructions 3.3 Control, empty and retie cod ends according to supervisor instructions 3.4 Disconnect and stow trawl, ensuring ease of deployment, crew safety and safe working area |
4. Land, contain and sort the catch | 4.1 Prepare containment devices to receive the catch according to supervisor instructions 4.2 Load catch safely into containment devices 4.3 Handle and sort seafood according to food safety and hygiene requirements 4.4 Sort catch to maximise by-catch survival and seafood quality |
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 |
Numeracy | Measures length or diameter of catch |
Reading | Reads sizes of connecting gear |
Navigate the world of work | Understands main tasks, responsibilities and boundaries of own role, including use of personal protective clothing and equipment, quality requirements and operating procedures |
Interact with others | Selects and uses appropriate terminology when communicating with crew, skipper and others Cooperates with other crew to carry out activities and respond to health and safety hazards and operational maintenance requirements |
Get the work done | Makes routine decisions to correct simple and familiar problems |
Sectors
Fishing Operations (FSH)