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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. |
A recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) is: | a system in which at least some of the water is recycled one or more times back into the system after some form of treatment also called a closed system (which is the opposite to a flow-through or open system where there is little residence time for the culture water) where a water exchange (replacement) rate of
5-10% per day is used to assist in maintaining water quality (particularly nitrate control) where generally some form of water treatment with equipment or structures, particularly aeration or oxygenation and processing of nitrogenous wastes, is undertaken. |
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 food safety/Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), hygiene and temperature control along chain of custody, and Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) Export Control (Fish) orders health and welfare of aquatic animals 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. |
Food safety and hygiene regulations and procedures may include: | Australian Shellfish Sanitation program equipment design, use, cleaning and maintenance exporting requirements and AQIS Export Control (Fish) orders HACCP, food safety program, and other risk minimisation and quality assurance systems location, construction and servicing of seafood premises people, product and place hygiene and sanitation requirements Primary Products Standard and the Australian Seafood Standard (voluntary) product labelling, tracing and recall receipt, storage and transportation of food, including seafood and aquatic products requirements set out in Australian and New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) Food Standards Code and state and territory food regulations temperature and contamination control along chain of custody. |
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, 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 water, and maintaining water quality. |
PPE may include: | hard hat or protective head covering hearing protection (e.g. ear plugs and ear muffs) non-slip and waterproof boots (gumboots) or other safety footwear protective eyewear, glasses and face mask protective hair, beard and boot covers uniforms, overalls or protective clothing (e.g. mesh and waterproof aprons). |
High technology water treatment components may include: | aeration or oxygenation equipment, such as aerators, aspirators, airlifts and fans components that regulate environmental and climate control factors, such as temperature, photoperiod and light intensity degassing systems for removing carbon dioxide and ozone, including the use of specialised air filters facilities and processes designed for health management such as quarantine area, sterilising using ultraviolet (UV) light and ozone, and pasteurising using heat or steam mechanical/physical/solid, chemical and biological filtration devices (or a combination of two or more different types): biological filter: is part of an RAS where dissolved metabolic by-products are converted to less toxic forms by microbial action from a range of different bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms the most important function is the oxidation of ammonia to nitrite, and nitrite to nitrate (often called nitrification) chemical filter: examples include activated carbon, zeolites and other ion-exchange mediums is where a variety of chemical substances are used to treat water passing through them ozone and chemical (e.g. pH and alkalinity) adjustments are also made, sometimes in a separate area to the chemical filter mechanical/physical/solid filter: includes swirl separators, hydrocones, protein skimmers or foam fractionators, drum filters, belt filters, bead and other suspended media filters and screen filters is important to ensure organic loads going into biofilters are as low as possible to prevent the more competitive heterotrophic bacteria from taking over and reducing nitrification capacity is part of an RAS that removes solid organic matter and other wastes reduces the biological oxygen demand (BOD) for the system some degassing or carbon dioxide stripping can also take place water treatment devices, such as those that maintain pH (acid/alkaline) balance ventilation systems, fans, blowers and humidifiers/ dehumidifiers. |
Work plan or schedule may include information on: | contingencies for responding to partial or full system shutdown, stock stress or mortalities contingency plan to address staffing and equipment supply problems costs and budget details date and time tasks are to be undertaken designated jobs tasks, directions or designs environmental impact control measures expected time required to complete activities hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control measures local, state, territory and federal government regulations location maintenance schedule for particular items of equipment manufacturer guidelines or instructions materials, supplies, tools, equipment or other resources required monitoring and reporting requirements and procedures, including logs or checklists non-conformance or incident/fault reporting procedures OHS procedures, including PPE requirements order of activities other members of work team and their roles, responsibilities and skills person in charge pre- and post-operational and safety checks preferred supplier list and resources required by external workers and tradespeople routine maintenance procedures specific structures or components standard for completed activities. |
Basic environmental parameters may include: | activity of pests, competitors, diseases and predators light levels turbidity water flow water level or depth. |
Advanced environmental parameters may include: | changes in stocking density, size classes and grades chemicals and biological agents diseases or stressful conditions inappropriate system design inefficient feeding or poor quality feeds intense lighting or inappropriate light regimes loud or intermittent noises source, quality and/or genetics of seed stock toxic micro-algae wastes and contaminants. |
Water quality parameters may include: | alkalinity BOD chlorine or chloramines dissolved carbon dioxide dissolved oxygen general water hardness level of nitrogenous wastes (e.g. ammonia, nitrite and nitrate), and contaminants and pollutants pH (acid/alkaline balance) phosphates redox potential salinity or conductivity temperature total dissolved solids. |
Cultured or held 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. |
Contingency plans to address: | adverse weather conditions and acts of nature, such as flood or fire breakdown of components bypass of components compromised water source disease outbreaks emergency procedures non-standard water quality parameters risks to cultured or held stock during emergency shutdowns or breakdowns risks to environment risks to infrastructure and equipment risks to product quality and food safety. |
Routine pre-operational checks and calibrations may include: | appropriate use of PPE checking and confirming equipment calibration settings and operating methods for turbo-charged engines checking for design problems or equipment modifications checking for wear, corrosion and incorrect use checking fuel, oils and lubricants, electrolyte levels, wheels, tyre pressure, fan belts, leads, lines, connections, air filters, brakes, clutch, gearbox, steering, lighting and transmission identifying and segregating unsafe or faulty equipment for repair or replacement inspecting safety guards, power take-off (PTO) stubs and shafts, and hitch and towing points observing and monitoring noise levels for correct operation preparing independently powered tools, which may include cleaning, priming, tightening, and basic repairs and adjustments pre-start and safety checks, including the service and maintenance of cooling system. |
Other aquaculture equipment and infrastructure may include: | alarm and monitoring systems, including loss of pressure, burglar, loss of electricity and critical parameters counters and microscopes, pipettes and syringes, measuring cylinders and dissecting kits effluent and waste disposal, such as sewage, septic and compost pits heating or cooling systems, such as heat exchange equipment, geothermal, gas, hydro, electric and solar (can also include insulated buildings and greenhouses) husbandry equipment, such as graders, feeders, fish pumps, nets, fish bins and transporters lighting, such as skylights, fluorescent, incandescent, metal halide and mercury vapour pipes and reticulation systems, including siphons, both for supply and disposal pumps: centrifugal magnetic drive pressure submersible peristaltic or dosing airlift piston hydraulic ram or helical drive axial screw pump regenerative turbine venturi self-priming or non-priming sludge or surge powered by: diesel or petrol electricity (single or 3-phase) cable hydraulics solar wind battery pneumatic or air driven water quality test equipment, including pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature and salinity washing, disinfecting and sterilising equipment (e.g. autoclaves). |
Culture or holding structures or systems may include: | display tanks, aquaria and aquascapes (ornamental industry) grow out facilities, hatcheries and nurseries harvested stock holding structures, tanks, bins and cages live holding systems pest, predator and disease control structures purging or depurating system tanks, raceways and RAS water supply and disposal systems for closed and semi-closed systems. |
Abnormal or non-standard conditions may include: | critical flow rates down due to obstructions or damage to lines or pipes critical water quality parameters outside safe operating conditions moving parts making unusual noises or movement being hampered plant or equipment failure resulting in leaks or non-operation of system power not on, water not flowing or aeration off smoke, fumes or other emissions sparks or obvious signs of electrical shorts stock showing signs of stress, such as: aggression or cannibalism colour changes gasping at surface lesions or other signs of damage to skin not feeding no reproduction or courtship piping, darting, flashing or whirling movement schooling activity swimming or moving erratically water levels too high or low in culture system. |
Adjustments to operating components may include: | alkalinity addition back-flushing or changing of filters biofilter start-up and maintenance changes in light and dark regimes degassing digital or analog control systems foam fractionator or protein skimmer heating or cooling managing shock-loading manual or computer controlled UV or ozone systems water or air flow changes. |
Enterprise requirements may include: | enterprise policies and procedures, including those relevant to waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines industry standards or codes of practice MSDS OHS procedures operations or maintenance manuals product labels, manufacturer specifications or guidelines production schedules standard operating procedures (SOPs) supervisor oral or written instructions work and routine maintenance plans work notes. |
Worn or damaged parts or areas may include: | depth and flow gauges and electronic monitors fittings (e.g. joints, valves and boards) flow control devices (e.g. taps, valves, float valves, monks, dykes, weirs and gates) mechanical components in treatment structures (e.g. sieves, filters and aerators) mechanical, chemical and biological filters pipes pumps and mechanical components sides or bottoms of earthen, concrete, fibreglass or plastic-lined supply and disposal systems or structures wood or metal structures. |
Work area may include: | depots hatchery, nursery, grow out and holding facilities laboratories post-harvest or processing facilities staff amenities stock and quarantine treatment facilities storage areas workshops. |
Operation, monitoring and maintenance data may include: | checklists, data sheets, inventory and stocktakes dates, times and progress against timelines of activities or events details related to culture or holding structures or systems operation and maintenance details and other outcomes achieved personnel and subcontractor performance data problems experienced and strategies to overcome them. |
Reports may include: | electronic or hard copy graphs and charts, including Gantt charts and tables KPIs. |