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.

Hand operated lines:
· nylon monofilament line
· other fishing lines
· weighted lines mounted on a:
hand operated winch
power operated winch
hand reel
· unweighted lines:
rod and reel
trolling gear
· squid jigging machines and lines.

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

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

Components:
· rods
· reels
· hand lines
· hooks, jigs or lures
· sinkers
· bait and burley
· by-catch reduction devices.

Reconditioned:
· line re-tied
· lines are coiled and uncoiled as required
· connections re-tied or re-collared
· clips straightened
· hooks sharpened
· bait replaced
· rods and reels washed, maintained and repaired.

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

Equipment:
· deploying devices:
rod and reel
hand operated winch
power operated winch
squid jigging machines
outrigger poles
· retrieval devices:
retrieval lines
rod and reel
hand operated winch
power operated winch
squid jigging machines
gaff
product compatible gloves
glove assisted landing technique
play lines
playing harness and seat
· dinghies.

Used:
· gear is guided on to equipment operated by other personnel
· fishing gear is connected to the equipment
· equipment is operated under supervision
· advice on the use of the equipment is offered.

Containment devices:
· brine tanks:
kill tanks
ice slurry
· 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 hand operated 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 hand operated line fishing gear
· principles that contribute to:
· personal, seafood and vessel hygiene
· environmental and resource protection
· workplace safety
· vessel stability
· benefits of ice slurry.

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

Literacy skills used for:
· reading different line strengths.

Numeracy skills used for:
· measuring length or diameter.

Critical aspects of competence
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
· maintain and prepare line fishing gear (such as that used for hand line fishing, trolling, squid jigging and rod and reel fishing) ready for deployment, and to retrieve the gear to a commercial fishing or charter fishing 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 hand operated line fishing gear components
· the order in which hand operated line fishing gear components are connected and disconnected
· principles of personal and vessel hygiene.

Interdependent assessment of units
This unit may be assessed after/with:
· SFISHIP206B - Operate a small vessel.

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 hand operated line fishing vessel with catch suitable for sorting.