Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Relevant government regulations, licensing and other compliance requirements are followed including:
biodiversity and genetically modified organisms
biosecurity, translocation and quarantine
Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) and other import requirements
business or workplace operations, policies and practices
correct marketing names and labelling
ESD principles, environmental hazard identification, risk assessment and control
fisheries or aquaculture regulations, permits and licences
health and welfare of aquatic animals
Indigenous land rights and cultural activities, including fishing by traditional methods
maritime and occupational diving operations, safety at sea and pollution control
OHS hazard identification, risk assessment and control
OHS guidelines may include:
appropriate workplace provision of first aid kits and fire extinguishers
codes of practice, regulations and/or guidance notes which may apply in a jurisdiction or industry sector
enterprise-specific OHS procedures, policies or standards
hazard and risk assessment of workplace, maintenance activities and control measures
safe lifting, carrying and handling techniques, including manual handling, and the handling and storage of hazardous substances
safe systems and procedures for outdoor work, including protection from solar radiation, fall protection, confined space entry and the protection of people in the workplace
the appropriate use, maintenance and storage of PPE.
ESD principles may include:
applying animal welfare ethics and procedures
control of effluents, chemical residues, contaminants, wastes and pollution
maintaining biodiversity by sustainable fisheries or broodstock/seedstock collection
reducing energy use
improving energy efficiency
reducing emissions of greenhouse gases
reducing use of non-renewable resources
increasing use of renewable, recyclable and recoverable resources
undertaking environmental hazard identification, risk assessment and control.
PPE may include
buoyancy vest or personal floatation device (PFD)
gloves, mitts or gauntlets, and protective hand and arm covering
insulated protective clothing for freezers or chillers and refrigeration units
non-slip and waterproof boots (gumboots) or other safety footwear
personal locator beacon or Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)
protective outdoor clothing for tropical conditions
safety harness
sun protection (e.g. sun hat, sunscreen and sunglasses)
waterproof clothing (e.g. wet weather gear).
Equipment may include:
calibrating equipment
callipers
computers, including laptops and software
data logging equipment and buoys
digital and polaroid cameras
electronic measuring devices
pens and pencils
preservatives
tagging equipment
sample storage materials and containers
scales
soft measuring boards
waterproof record sheets and labels.
Measurements and observations may include:
environmental conditions:
bottom and surface water temperatures
bottom conditions
debris
oily substances
pH
water quality
interrogation of data loggers
location (latitude and longitude) and distance from significant port or landmark
number and species of by-catch, including per shot and per day
number and species of fish, including dead and undersized
number and species of seabirds and marine mammals
quantity of catch:
number
percentage of bin
weight
retrieval of tags:
colour
damage
double tag
location
reproductive status
sex
size
seabird activity:
distance from vessel
diving
hook ups
level of interest or disinterest
numbers
species
sex of fish and gonad state
size of catch:
eye-fork
eye-tail
fork length
snout to anus
standard length
time and date
weather and sea conditions:
phase of moon
tides and currents
wave and swell height and direction
wind speed and direction
weight:
cleaned
fresh
with and without head.
Samples may include:
'dumb' and 'smart' tags
environmental conditions, including water and microscopic organisms
gonads
muscle samples for genetic analysis
samples of species:
whole animals for identification
hard or soft samples
otoliths
stomach contents.
Estimations may include:
catch conversion factors for a variety of processing techniques, such as skin on/off, head on/off, fillets and square/diagonal cut
extrapolation of data to estimate catch from sample time to trawl time, and from sample number and weight to total catch
percentage of bin
time
whole catch.
Procedures may include:
agency recording and reporting procedures
Australian and international standards
calibration and maintenance schedules
equipment manuals
OHS procedures
standard operating procedures (SOPs)
storage of samples, including preservation and freezing.
Sampling conditions may include:
appropriate transportation methods
labelling information
monitoring of storage conditions, including temperature control
percentage of bin
random and stratified (time dependent, top/bottom) samples
spill to bin
use of appropriate containers
use of preservatives
wrapping and preparations for freezing to prevent burn.
Atypical measurements and observations may include:
catch of sea birds and marine mammals
changed fishing practice, such as into wind, across wind and depth
fish kills and algal blooms
measurements outside expected ranges due to calibration errors or faulty equipment
unexpected species or by-catch
unusual biological features of catch (e.g. size, weight and age)
unusual environmental conditions.

EVIDENCE GUIDE
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit
Assessment must confirm the ability to follow a sampling plan and associated procedures, to conduct measurements and to collect biological samples and other scientific data.

Assessment must confirm the ability to:
apply quality data collection processes that yield outcomes that are valid and comparable to other data sources
complete data collection and sampling records
engage other vessel crew members to support data collection
identify atypical measurements and samples and suggest possible causes and effects
identify samples to ensure a link to their origins
obtain specified measurements, observations, estimations and representative samples
preserve or protect samples to minimise change or deterioration.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:
measuring techniques
relevant procedures for planning, designing, conducting, recording and reporting measurements and samples taken
sampling methodologies
use of measuring and sampling equipment
typical and likely atypical occurrences.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment is to be conducted at the workplace or in a simulated work environment.

Resources may include:
equipment maintenance schedules and procedures
relevant documentation, such as:
standard operating procedures for sampling and data collection
sampling and data collection plans
cruise procedures and protocols for observers
selection of sampling equipment and recording sheets.
Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
examples of workplace recording and reporting completed by the candidate
observation of the candidate while conducting onboard observations
practical exercises, including the design and conduct of measurement and sampling processes
third-party reports from team leaders, cruise personnel, users of the marine environment and other relevant personnel
written or oral short-answer testing to assess underpinning knowledge.
Guidance information for assessment
This unit may be assessed holistically with other units in the Observer Skill Set:
SFIOBSV301B Monitor and record fishing operations
SFIOBSV303B Collect routine fishery management data
SFIOBSV304B Analyse and report onboard observations.