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.

Stock:
· finfish (including ornamentals)
· crustaceans
· molluscs
· reptiles
· amphibians
· invertebrates
· macro-algae
· micro-algae
· aquatic plants
· adults, larvae, seed, spat, hatchlings, broodstock, juveniles, fry, fingerlings, sporophytes, seedlings.

Stage or component of the enterprise:
· single or multiple species (polyculture, integrated culture)
· broodstock collection and maturation
· hatchery production or seed stock collection
· nursery culture
· ongrowing and growout
· on-farm post harvest or processing.

Government regulations relating to farm ownership/possession:
· rights, responsibilities, and limitations relating to farm ownership or possession (lease)
· aquacultural tenancy
· culture stock permits/licences
· lease arrangements and requirements (contract growing)
· environment protection.

Government regulations relating to farm production:
· control of predators, pests and diseases
· handling, transport, storage and use of chemicals
· transport of broodstock and seedstock
· use of exotic species
· registration of firearms
· product quality and food safety
· notification of notifiable diseases
· licensing
· provision of relevant data for authorities
· Occupational Health and Safety requirements
· base line study and environmental monitoring.

Production facilities:
· air supplies
· oxygen or gases
· electricity or power supplies
· feeding equipment
· lease markers
· predator exclusion
· water storage, supply and disposal systems
· water quality
· culture structures
· fencing and gateways
· laneways, tracks and roads
· processing, grading and storage sheds
· backup equipment (water, air, power supplies)
· waste disposal.

Equipment requirements:
· harvesting equipment:
· nets, cages, traps and scoops
· fish pump
· swim way
· remote operated video or still camera
· water treatment equipment:
· aerators
· filters
· temperature control
· flow regulators
· waste collection or disposal
· sterilisers, including ultraviolet and ozone
· transport equipment:
· buckets, pails and tanks
· oxygen supply
· bags
· baskets
· graders, counters, scales and measuring equipment
· cleaning equipment
· safety equipment:
· protective clothing, including gloves, boots, masks and overalls
· anaesthetic or restraints for dangerous animals.

Inputs and services:
· energy
· water
· seedstock and broodstock
· feeds
· biofoulants
· chemicals for parasite and disease prevention and control.
· harvesting and production equipment and supplies
· culture structure and associated materials
· employed labour, contractors and share farmers.

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:
· stock nutrition or feeding
· stock breeding, where appropriate
· stock health
· production cycles
· biological and physical requirements of stock
· stock husbandry and management
· disease surveillance and health management protocols
· legislation, regulations and voluntary codes of practice.

Practical skills
The essential skills a person needs to perform work to the required standard includes ability to:
· make judgements on a wide range of factors including resource requirements which are to be detailed in the production plan
· establish Occupational Health and Safety procedures
· manage personnel.

Literacy skills used for:
· writing reports
· developing detailed production plans and supporting schedules
· extracting data/information from journals, web sites, magazines, books, trade journals.

Numeracy skills used for:
· recording and presenting data
· forecasting, budgeting
· calculating chemical dose rate
· using spreadsheets and entering data.

Critical aspects of competence
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
· accurately determine labour, equipment and other requirements for each stage of operations
· produce a profitable and sustainable stock production plan for an aquaculture enterprise which is ecologically, biologically and financially sustainable.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:
· aquaculture production
· basic business skills to analyse financial performance of the production plan.

Interdependent assessment of units
This unit may be assessed after/with:
· SFIAQUA405B - Develop emergency procedures for an aquaculture enterprise
· SFIAQUA501B - Develop a stock nutrition program
· SFIAQUA502B - Develop and implement an aquaculture breeding strategy
· SFIAQUA504B - Plan ecologically sustainable aquaculture practices
· SFIAQUA505B - Plan stock health management.

Context of assessment
Assessment is to be conducted at the workplace or in a simulated work environment. To assess a plan's profitability and sustainability it should be assessed over a period of time which allows for at least one full production cycle.

Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
· project work based on an actual workplace or case study.

Resources required for assessment
Resources may include:
· workplace scenario or case study.