Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to maintain and prepare potting and trapping gear ready for deployment and retrieving the gear to the vessel. It includes the ability to maintain pots and traps, connect them to equipment, use machinery to deploy and retrieve them, load catch and undertake initial seafood handling specific to potting and trapping operations.
This unit applies to individuals who work as deckhands on vessels and undertake routine trap and pot fishing activities 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 traps and pots ready for deployment | 1.1 Check traps and pots against vessel maintenance plan and supervisor instructions 1.2 Identify and report defective, worn or loose pot and trap components to supervisor 1.3 Recondition or repair defective components according to supervisor instructions 1.4 Dispose of defective trap and pot components according to workplace requirements |
2. Deploy traps and pots | 2.1 Prepare and gather trap and pot components ready for deployment 2.2 Connect trap and pot components in the configuration according to fishing method and supervisor instructions 2.3 Use machinery to safely deploy the gear from the vessel according to supervisor instructions 2.4 Move traps and pots according to vessel operating procedures, lifting guidelines and deck teamwork procedures 2.5 Deploy traps and pots, checking lines are not fouled, and ensure correct trap or pot orientation 2.6 Deploy devices and systems, ensuring efficient operation and environmental impact and interaction with by-catch are minimised |
3. Retrieve traps and pots | 3.1 Retrieve floats and dan poles according to supervisor instructions 3.2 Attach ropes to hauling devices and load into baskets for stowing according to supervisor instructions 3.3 Extract catch from traps and pots according to supervisor instructions and in a manner to maximise seafood quality 3.4 Disconnect and stow traps and pots, 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)