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.

Traps and pots:
· crayfish pots
· fish traps
· octopus traps
· other.

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

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

Components:
· flag poles
· floats
· lines
· bridles, toggles and lashings
· ballast
· bait and bait holding devices
· pot or trap material and frame
· by-catch reduction devices.

Reconditioned:
· pot frames tightened
· material stretched
· ropes re-spliced
· bait replaced.

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:
· capstans
· line reels
· pot haulers
· line coilers
· 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:
· recirculating sea water tanks
· ice rooms
· sorting areas
· pounded deck areas
· 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
· recirculating sea water tank hatches.

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 pots and traps to the required standard include:
· factors that make trap and pot components effective or defective
· order in which trap and pot fishing 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 pots and traps to the required standard include:
· repairing or replacing all worn gear components
· assembling and dismantling connecting devices
· ensuring gear is deployed untwisted
· using machinery to deploy and retrieve trap and pot 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 potting and trapping 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 the common trap and pot gear components listed in the range of variables
· renew and repair damaged gear components
· sort and contain the catch.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:
· criteria for assessing the quality of trap and pot 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 potting or trapping vessel with catch suitable for sorting.