Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 10:33 AM AWST

Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.

Develop and implement a stock health program

Develop and implement a stock health program

Unit of competency
National Code
SFIAQUA401C
State Code
D9148
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Transition (Replaced)
Current Release Number
1.00
Current Release Date
22/07/2011
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
27/02/2012
Field of Education
050701 - Aquaculture
Original Release Date
27/02/2012
Nominal Hours
50
Description
This unit of competency involves developing and implementing a stock health program and work procedures for others involved in maintaining the health of stock. It includes protecting filter feeding stock from contamination. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Develop health program for cultured or held stock
  • 1.1. Stock health management plan and stock production plan are read and strategies and objectives confirmed with relevant senior personnel.
  • 1.2. Locally prevalent health problems are identified.
  • 1.3. Potential exotic pests, predators and diseases, especially those with significant economic impact and/or that are notifiable, are identified.
  • 1.4. Husbandry practices which prevent and control health problems are identified according to current industry practices.
  • 1.5. Control measures which aim to prevent the introduction of pests, predators and diseases to the facility are selected.
  • 1.6. Controlmeasures that protect filter feeding stock from contamination or other stock from pests, predators or disease are selected.
  • 1.7. Routines for health treatment of stock are developed according to sound veterinary principles.
  • 1.8. A yearly calendar of health management operations is developed according to overall stock production program and stock health management plans.
  • 1.9. Options for mechanisation or automation of process or activity are assessed, including the use of specialised contract services, and recommendations made to senior personnel.
2. Implement a stock health program
  • 2.1. Stock health program is communicated clearly to all involved and roles and responsibilities established.
  • 2.2. Work procedures that ensure personal safety and environmental protection are established for the use of therapeutic chemicals and biological agents and communicated to staff.
  • 2.3. Stock health program is monitored for effectiveness and modified, where appropriate.
  • 2.4. Legal requirements and regulations are met.
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 may include:
business or workplace operations, policies and practices:
commercial law, including fair trading and trade practices
consumer law
corporate law, including registration, licensing and financial reporting
disability policies and practices
equal opportunity, anti-discrimination and sexual harassment
industrial relations and awards, individual employment contracts and share of catch agreements
jurisdictional variations
superannuation
taxation
trade practices
warnings and dismissals
worker's compensation
ESD principles, environmental hazard identification, risk assessment and control
fisheries or aquaculture regulations, permits, licences, quotas, catch restrictions, and other compliance requirements, including:
Australian Exclusive Economic Zone
international treaties and agreements
food safety, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), hygiene and temperature control along chain of custody
imports quarantine and inspection, and importing approved arrangements for Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS), Australian Customs Service (ACS) and Biosecurity Australia (BA)
Indigenous native title, land claims and cultural activities, including fishing by traditional methods
maritime and occupational diving operations:
foreign and Australian legislation applying to quarantine and customs
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW 1978)
Marine Emergency Response Search and Rescue (MERSAR)
National Standards for Commercial Vessels
pollution prevention - International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78)
Uniform Shipping Laws (USL) Code
use of vessels, right of way and other marine orders, bunkering and refuelling
land, buildings and vehicles:
buildings and structures design and appearance, constructions and additions
poaching, trespass and theft
road laws for use of motor vehicles, bikes, trucks and other transport equipment
soil and water management
use of chemicals and biological agents
use of firearms and powerheads
use of utilities, including water, natural gas, electricity and sewage
water or land lease, tenure or ownership and use
OHS hazard identification, risk assessment and control
product quality assurance:
correct naming and labelling (e.g. country of origin, Australian Fish Names Standard and eco-labelling)
correct quantities, sizes and other customer requirements
third-party certification, such as Australian Grown and ISO 14001:2004 Environmental management systems.
OHS guidelines may include:
appropriate workplace provision of first aid kits and fire extinguishers
clean, uncluttered, hygienic workplace
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
induction or training of staff, contractors and visitors in relevant OHS procedures and/or requirements to allow them to carry out their duties in a safe manner
OHS training register
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
systems and procedures for the safe maintenance of property, machinery and equipment, including hydraulics and exposed moving parts
the appropriate use, maintenance and storage of PPE.
Food safety and hygiene regulations and procedures may include:
Australian Shellfish Sanitation program
display, packaging and sale of food, including seafood and aquatic products
equipment design, use, cleaning and maintenance
exporting requirements, including AQIS Export Control (Fish) orders
handling and disposal of condemned or recalled seafood products
HACCP, food safety program, and other risk minimisation and quality assurance systems
location, construction and servicing of seafood premises
people, product and place hygiene and sanitation requirements
Primary Products Standard and the Australian Seafood Standard (voluntary)
processing, further processing and preparation of food, including seafood and aquatic products
product labelling, tracing and recall
receipt, storage and transportation of food, including seafood and aquatic products
requirements set out in Australian and New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) Food Standards Code and state and territory food regulations
temperature and contamination control along chain of custody.
ESD principles may include:
controlling use and recycling of water, and managing water quality and quantity
increasing use of renewable, recyclable and recoverable resources
managing environmental hazard identification, risk assessment and control
managing imported products quarantine and inspection, facility biosecurity, translocation of livestock and genetic material, and health certification
managing stock health and welfare, especially for handling, holding, transport and slaughter
managing sustainable fisheries or broodstock/seedstock collection requirements, such as size limits, quotas, season restrictions, population dynamics, fishing impacts, reducing by-catch, fisheries management strategies, and maintaining biodiversity
managing, controlling and treating effluents, chemical residues, contaminants, wastes and pollution
minimising noise, dust, light or odour emissions
planning environmental and resource efficiency improvements
preventing genetically modified and live cultured or held organisms from escaping into environment
protecting native and protected flora and fauna, marine or land parks or areas, adhering to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), the Ramsar Convention, World Heritage and other international treaties for which Australia is a signatory
reducing emissions of greenhouse gases
reducing use of non-renewable resources
reducing disturbances to soils, erosion and surface water flows from machinery use and other activities
reducing energy use and introducing alternative energy sources.
PPE may include:
buoyancy vest or personal floatation device (PFD)
gloves, mitts or gauntlets, and protective hand and arm covering
hard hat or protective head covering
hearing protection (e.g. ear plugs and ear muffs)
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 eyewear, glasses and face mask
protective hair, beard and boot covers
protective outdoor clothing for tropical conditions
respirator or face mask
safety harness
sun protection (e.g. sun hat, sunscreen and sunglasses)
uniforms, overalls or protective clothing (e.g. mesh and waterproof aprons)
waterproof clothing (e.g. wet weather gear and waders).
Cultured or held stock may include:
adults, broodstock (ready to breed), seedstock or stockers, eggs and sperm, fertilised eggs, larvae, post-larvae, seed, spat, hatchlings, yearlings, juveniles, fry, fingerlings, yearlings, smolt, sporophytes, seedlings and tissue cultures
finfish, crustaceans, molluscs, aquatic reptiles, amphibians, polychaete and oligochaete worms, plankton, micro-algae, seaweed, aquatic plants, live rock, sponges and other aquatic invertebrates
for human consumption (seafood), stockers for other farms, stockers for conservation or recreational fishing, display or companion animals (ornamentals), and other products, including pearls, skins, shells, eggs, chemicals and pigments
wild caught, hatchery or nursery reared.
Health problems may include:
pests and competitors
predators
diseases - infectious and non-infectious (environmental)
parasites and other pathogens
toxic algae
chemicals or other contaminants.
Exotic pests, predators and diseases may include:
any pest, predator or disease agents not present in the region that may have a severe economic impact on the aquaculture, seafood holding or ornamental enterprise or regional industry sector
pests:
any organisms which negatively impact on the production of the cultured or held stock
competitors (e.g. food, space, shelter and oxygen).
Notifiable refers to:
state/territory and federal regulations or cooperative disease control programs.
Control measures (relevant to filter feeding stock) may include:
capture and relocation
deterrence (e.g. cultural, biological or environmental)
elimination (e.g. shooting or chemical poisoning)
exclusion (e.g. physical barriers)
others, as appropriate.
Filter feeding stock may include:
bivalves:
clams
giant clams
mussels
oysters
pearl oysters
scallops
larval stages of cultured or held stock
live-feeds, such as Artemia, Rotifers, Daphnia
'living rock', corals and other invertebrates
sponges
tunicates.
Contamination may include:
chemicals and pollutants
E. coli, other faecal coliforms and other bacteria
toxic algae
viruses.
Routines for health treatment may include:
bathing or dipping
disinfectants (e.g. foot baths and tanks)
environmental manipulation (e.g. salinity and shade)
fallowing of ponds and net sites
filters, ultraviolet (UV) and ozone
oral treatments (in feeds)
removal of troublesome organisms
selection of resistant phase or species
sprays or water treatments
vaccinations or injections.
Therapeutic may include:
non-registered agents/chemicals
registered agents/chemicals
veterinary advice
withholding periods for chemicals and medicines.
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:
choose between treatment or prevention options taking into account economic, regulatory, environmental and OHS factors
develop and use work procedures covering all aspects of stock health
monitor effectiveness of stock health activities, including performance of staff.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:
costs of chemicals and other disease treatment or control methods
interaction between stock, the environment and disease agents in the development and treatment or control of disease
regulations relating to use of chemicals and other disease treatments or control methods.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment is to be conducted at the workplace or in a simulated work environment.

Resources may include:
functional aquaculture, seafood holding or ornamental facility
work procedures.
Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
workplace project with a range of evidence, including workplace records, work procedures, staff duty statements, health management calendar, minutes of meetings, journal or diary, annotated photographs, and third-party reports and supporting documents, such as annotated research notes and comparative budgets.
Guidance information for assessment
This unit may be assessed holistically with other units within a qualification.
Replaces
State Code National Code Title Type
S4166 SFIAQUA401B Develop and implement a stock health program Unit of competency
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
OAS28 SFIAQU401 Develop and implement a stock health program Unit of competency
State Code National Code Title Type
W988 SFI40111 Certificate IV in Aquaculture Qualification