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.

Beach seines, mesh nets or gill nets:
beach seines
gill nets for:
shark
estuarine species.

Checked:
symmetry of:
sweeps
bridles
head ropes
foot ropes
rips, holes and worn netting
security of hangings for net and lashings for ground gear and floatation
by-catch reduction devices
connecting devices for wear.

Criteria:
looseness
absence
cracks
wear limit
distortion
internal and external damage to rope.

Components:
sweeps and bridles
netting material
hangings
floatation devices
ballast
by-catch reduction devices
flags, buoys and droppers
connecting devices:
knots
clips.

Reconditioned:
all components except for the netting material.

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

Machinery:
net drums
capstans
line haulers
dinghies.

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
ice rooms
sorting trays
pounded deck areas
fish boxes:
wash boxes
exchangeable market boxes
freezing cartons.

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 beach seines, mesh nets or gill nets 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 the fishing gear
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 beach seines, mesh nets or gill nets to the required standard include:
repairing or replacing all worn gear components, excluding damage to netting material
assembling and dismantling connecting devices
ensuring gear is deployed untwisted
using machinery to deploy and retrieve fishing gear
stowing fishing gear
sorting catch.

Literacy skills used for:
reading sizes of connecting gear.

Numeracy skills used for:
measuring length or diameter.

Critical aspects of competence
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
maintain and prepare beach seining or gill netting 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
lash ground gear and/or floatation
renew damaged net hangings
repair all aspects of the gear, except damaged netting
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:
SFIFISH210B - Assemble and repair damaged netting
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 vessel with beach seining or gill netting gear and catch suitable for sorting.