Elements and Performance Criteria

The range of variables places the competency in context and allows for differences between enterprises and workplaces, including practices, knowledge and requirements. The range of variables also provides a focus for assessment and relates to the unit as a whole. The following variables may be present.

Advanced water quality parameters:
· dissolved or suspended solids or wastes
· carbon dioxide
· redox
· ozone
· soil pH
· clay content of soil
· contaminants/chemicals, including pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals
· biological oxygen demand, bacterial (E. coli and faecal coliforms)
· natural feeds
· sediments
· fouling
· chlorophyll
· phosphorus (total and orthophosphate).

Advanced environmental monitoring parameters:
· changes in native land-based and/or aquatic life around the farm including macro-invertebrates and macrophytes
· sediment and debris levels
· wastes and contaminants
· toxic microalgae
· presence of severe weather conditions (such as king tide)
· on-farm and external chemicals.

Routine water quality and environmental parameters:
· dissolved oxygen
· hardness
· ammonia
· nitrite
· nitrate
· carbon dioxide
· alkalinity
· temperature
· salinity
· pH
· turbidity
· weather, rain, wind
· tides, water flow
· organisms in surrounding environment.

Equipment:
· electronic machines
· probes, grabs
· nets, dredges, traps, cages, plankton nets, water sample bottles
· still and video cameras, remote controlled cameras or vehicles
· specialised machinery
· micropipettes
· soil analysis kits
· flow injection autoanalysers
· spectrophotometer
· chlorinometer
· advanced chemical tests
· refractometer.

Repairs and calibrations:
· adjustment of probes or other settings for calibration
· replacement of electronic parts, covers, probes.

Samples:
· stock
· water
· weather station/meteorological data
· sediments or soils
· culture equipment
· pests, predators or fouling organisms
· vegetation (land and aquatic).

Samples for external analysis:
· contaminants, such as heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals
· proximate analysis of culture or other organisms
· trace elements, mineral content of waters/soils
· pathology.

Occupational Health and Safety requirements may include:
· codes of practice, regulations and/or guidance notes which may apply in a jurisdiction
· enterprise-specific Occupational Health and Safety procedures, policies or standards.

Each unit of competency has an evidence guide that relates directly to the performance criteria and the range of variables. Its purpose is to guide assessment of the unit in the workplace and/or training program. The following components provide information to assist this purpose.

Underpinning knowledge
The essential knowledge and understanding a person needs to perform work to the required standard include:
· biology and chemistry of water bodies
· basic and advanced water quality tests to be undertaken
· monitoring equipment options and limitations
· monitoring equipment calibration and operating methods
· monitoring equipment maintenance and advanced repairs
· correct collection and submission of samples for external analyses.

Practical skills
The essential skills a person needs to perform work to the required standards include:
· operating basic monitoring equipment
· maintaining and repairing basic monitoring equipment
· recognising normal/abnormal stock behaviour and environmental conditions
· supervising staff.

Literacy skills used for:
· recording monitoring information
· reading and interpreting a monitoring schedule.

Numeracy skills used for:
· calculating volumes, measuring mass and volume
· drawing calibration curves
· reading machines or test kits.

Critical aspects of competence
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
· correctly use advanced water quality tests and monitoring equipment in carrying out the aquaculture operation's quality and environmental monitoring program and to supervise staff carrying out basic water quality testing and monitoring.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:
· advanced water quality tests and water sampling
· operation, maintenance and calibration of monitoring equipment
· preservation of samples
· submission of samples for external analyses.

Interdependent assessment of units
This unit may be assessed after/with:
· No recommendations.

Context of assessment
Assessment is to be conducted at the workplace or in a simulated work environment. It should reflect the range of monitoring equipment and tests typically used on aquaculture farms in the local region and it should involve supervision of staff carrying out basic water quality tests and monitoring.

Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
· written or oral short-answer testing
· research assignment
· role play
· project work related to on-site scenario or based on a case study.

Resources required for assessment
Resources may include:
· culture structure and medium
· staff to supervise
· water quality tests
· cameras
· monitoring equipment
· on-site scenario or case study
· research reference material.