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.

Drop lines and long lines:
· surface long lines:
· tuna
· other species
· bottom set long lines
· trot lines
· drop lines
· monofilament gear
· rope gear.

Checked:
· broken, blunt or bent components
· security of connecting devices, knots and lashings
· by-catch reduction devices
· ropes for wear.

Criteria:
· looseness
· sharpness of hooks
· absence
· cracks
· wear limit
· distortion
· internal and external damage to rope.

Components:
· floats
· detection devices:
· flag poles
· lights
· RADAR reflectors
· radio transponders
· connecting devices
· retrieval devices
· main lines
· branch lines or snoods
· hooks
· ballast
· bait
· by-catch reduction devices.

Reconditioned:
· ropes re-spliced
· lines coiled and uncoiled as required
· connections re-tied, re-spliced or re-collared
· clips straightened
· hooks sharpened
· bait replaced.

Regulations and requirements:
· State and Territories' food regulations
· Occupational Health and Safety standards
· enterprise procedures
· vessel operating procedures
· hygiene requirements
· environmental protection regulations
· transport regulations and requirements
· ecologically sustainable development principles.

Machinery:
· auto line systems
· deploying devices:
· line drum
· line shooter
· bait thrower
· line basket
· retrieval devices:
· capstan
· line drum
· line hauler
· branch line coiler
· gaff
· play lines
· lifting gear:
· hydraulically operated crane
· mast and boom
· block and tackle.

Used:
· gear is guided on to machinery operated by other personnel
· fishing gear is connected to the machinery
· machinery is operated under supervision.

Containment devices:
· brine tanks:
· kill tanks
· ice slurry
· fresh water tanks
· ice rooms
· fish handling and sorting areas
· pounded deck areas
· fish boxes:
· wash boxes
· exchangeable market boxes
· freezing cartons
· 'coffins'.

Prepared:
· cleaned
· disinfected
· freezing cartons assembled
· freezer carton liners applied
· exchangeable market boxes are accounted for
· boxes sufficient for sorting are arranged ergonomically
· brine tank hatches arranged.

Sorted:
· by species
· by legal length
· by size
· by sex:
· male or female
· sexual stage
· as by-catch
· as seafood for retention.

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 maintain, prepare, deploy and retrieve drop lines and long lines to the required standard include:
· factors that make components effective or defective
· order in which gear components are connected and disconnected
· basic operating principle of drop lines and long lines
· principles that contribute to:
· personal, seafood and vessel hygiene
· environmental and resource protection
· workplace safety
· vessel stability.

Practical skills
The essential skills a person needs to maintain, prepare, deploy and retrieve drop lines and long lines to the required standard include:
· repairing or replacing all worn gear components
· assembling and dismantling connecting devices
· coiling and uncoiling lines
· ensuring gear is deployed untwisted
· using machinery to deploy and retrieve fishing gear
· stowing fishing gear
· sorting catch.

Numeracy skills used for:
· measuring length or diameter.

Critical aspects of competence
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
· maintain and prepare drop line and long line fishing gear ready for deployment, and to retrieve the gear to the vessel
· handle and sort seafood with regard to food safety and hygiene and food quality.
· prepare, deploy and retrieve common gear components
· renew and repair damaged gear components
· sort and contain the catch.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:
· criteria for assessing the quality of gear components
· order in which gear components are connected and disconnected
· principles of personal and vessel hygiene.
·
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.

Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
· written or oral short answer testing
· practical exercises
· project work
· observation of practical demonstration.

Resources required for assessment
Resources may include:
· fully operational drop line or long line fishing vessel with catch suitable for sorting.