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.

Breeding strategy:
· collection of wild stock or progeny
· natural spawning
· induced spawning
· stripping of gametes
· crosses, use of hybrids
· emacculation
· polyploidy
· other sterilising methods.

Culture 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.

Economic assessments:
· costs and benefits of alternative strategies
· survival rates
· growth rates
· condition
· FCR (feed conversion ratio)
· percentage improvement per generation
· proportion of desired traits.

Requirements of the breeding strategy:
· source of stock
· source of broodstock
· capacity of holding facility
· capacity of spawning and larval rearing facility (hatchery)
· capacity of nursery
· optimum time to stock
· optimum size or grade to stock
· numbers required.

Selection aims or goals:
· improved profitability
· breeding goals
· family selection criteria
· strain selection criteria
· production history.

Visual methods of stock selection:
· size
· age
· general appearance and colour
· temperament
· percentage deformity
· sex ratio.

Objective methods of stock selection
· body weight
· vitality, hardiness
· disease susceptibility
· gonad condition
· flesh colour and condition
· previous breeding success
· growth rate
· standard selection indices.

Broodstock selection criteria:
· age
· history
· physical appearance
· disease infestations or parasites
· temperament
· body weight
· condition and gonad maturation.

Broodstock sources:
· captive bred animals
· wild caught animals (prefer local strains).

Genetic material:
· ova (non-fertilised and fertilised)
· sperm.

Maturation treatments:
· temperature
· light
· salinity
· pH
· tidal or water flow
· hormonal
· eyestalk and ablation
· food availability.

Government regulations:
· relevant local, State, Territory and Commonwealth legislation, regulations and orders
· certification/clearance
· transfer of genetic materials
· implications (gene flow, disease, parasites) or biodiversity
· quarantine
· stock testing protocol.

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:
· basic principles of genetics
· breeding and lifecycle biology of culture stock
· genetic development in aquaculture
· assessment criteria to determine the effectiveness of breeding
· economic assessment of production characteristics
· breeding techniques and programs which maximise genetic gain
· breeding strategy available
· risks associated with breeding program.

Practical skills
The essential skills a person needs to perform work to the required standards include:
· selecting females
· selecting males
· selecting genetic resources
· calculating genetic gain and evaluating it.

Literacy skills used for:
· reading and assessing literature
· designing programs
· compiling detailed stock records.

Numeracy skills used for:
· counting stock
· calculating percentage per proportion of sexes used, traits passed on to progeny.

Critical aspects of competence
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
· select desired trait and assess effectiveness of strategy.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:
· breeding strategies
· breeding and lifecycle biology of culture stock
· assessment criteria to determine effectiveness of breeding.

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. Assessment will need to cover several breeding cycles and at least two species common to the region.

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:
· desk top exercises
· broodstock handling facility
· broodstock and genetic material.