Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to adjust and position fishing gear before deployment, fishing and retrieval in order to maximise catch.
The unit applies to individuals who work with a range of fishing gear in fishing operations, including beach seines, mesh nets and gill nets, demersal fish and prawn trawls, drop lines and long lines, hand operated lines, pots and traps, purse seines and traditional fishing methods, tools and equipment.
All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, according to state/territory health and 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. Organise work area to adjust fishing gear | 1.1 Select required fishing gear and equipment, including personal protective equipment, according to fishing operations plan 1.2 Identify and rectify unsafe and inefficient aspects of the work area 1.3 Give team members clear instructions about the task and methods to be used 1.4 Ensure necessary resources required for the task are readily available 1.5 Check tools, equipment and techniques devised for maintaining and readying fishing devices for deployment are appropriate for planned operations |
2. Adjust components of fishing gear to optimise catch | 2.1 Assess effectiveness of fishing gear against workplace criteria to determine whether fishing gear is sub-optimal 2.2 Make observations on catch and fishing device components to provide data on position, symmetry and performance 2.3 Assess effectiveness of deployment of fishing device components by comparing catches and observed operation of components with gear plans 2.4 Adjust, recondition or construct fishing device components to rectify sub-optimal gear performance |
3. Position fishing gear to optimise catch | 3.1 Develop a fishing strategy that incorporates target species and environmental factors 3.2 Monitor position, concentration and movement of the target species, and environmental and other characteristics of area of operation, by visual and electronic means 3.3 Monitor and adjust positions of vessel and fishing device during deployment and retrieval to optimise catch and avoid hazards 3.4 Anticipate fishing device movement and alter its position to maintain desired position by changing vessel course and speed 3.5 Analyse catches to determine effectiveness and performance of fishing device |
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 |
Reading | Interprets gear plans Reads and records data obtained from electronic detection equipment Reads tide tables |
Numeracy | Estimates the time taken for the fishing gear to reach a feature identified by the echo sounder on the vessel Reads and records data obtained from electronic detection equipment |
Navigate the world of work | Takes responsibility for decisions about when and how to complete tasks and coordinate with others |
Interact with others | Uses appropriate vocabulary, including technical language directly relevant to role |
Sectors
Fishing Operations (FSH)