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.

Crocodiles:
· estuarine or saltwater crocodile Crocodylus porosus
· freshwater or Johnstone's crocodile C. johnstoni
· American alligators Alligator mississippiensis.

Personal protective equipment (PPE):
· waterproof clothing
· work safety and waterproof footwear
· protective gloves
· protective outdoor clothing for prevailing climatic conditions.

Government requirements:
· Australian Standard for Hygienic Production of Crocodile Meat for Human Consumption
· export: AQIS Export Control (Fish) Orders
· State and Territories' food regulations
· workplace Occupational Health and Safety standards
· workplace food safety program
· workplace quality assurance systems.

Industry code:
· code of practice on the Humane Treatment of Captive and Wild Australian Crocodiles.

Harvest schedule:
· crocodiles to be harvested
· quantities and specific quality parameters:
physical appearance
type and extent of external damage
size or weight
sex or maturation condition
shape or colour
body condition (fat content, meat yield)
· equipment required for harvest operations
· time and period over which harvest is to be carried out:
· over several weeks, days or hours and time of day
· destination of harvested stock.

Capture, holding and transport equipment:
· capture equipment or method (based on length of crocodile):
hand capture (<1.0 m)
hand noose (1.0-1.5 m)
ropes (>1.5 m)
trap (2.0-6.0 m)
skin harpoon (2.0-6.0 m)
nets (0.5-6.0 m)
· holding and transport containers and associated equipment:
ventilated containers (prawn crates, wooden boxes, hessian bags)
capped PVC pipes
'carry boards'
ropes and ties
covers, tarpaulins
straw
cooling water
· immobilising agents
· transport vehicle:
trailer, vessel, vehicle, helicopter (charter), airplane (charter).

Location:
· wild, natural environment
· farm, including hatcheries and nurseries
· zoos, public aquaria.

Enclosures:
· dams, ponds and pools
· cages, enclosures, fences and pens
· tanks.

Immobilising agents:
· sedatives.

Restraining methods:
· jaw ties (rubber bands, tape or cord according to size of crocodile)
· wet sack to cover eyes
· leg ties (rope, cord or tape)
· immobilising agents.

Post-harvest facilities:
· on-farm
· holding, depuration or purging
· sorting or grading
· processing (cleaning, icing or temperature manipulation)
· packing.

Transport environment:
· temperature
· humidity
· protection from sunlight, particularly eyes
· protection from other crocodiles
· protection from mechanical shock or jolting
· restraints do not restrict blood circulation or injury in any other way
· cover or shade
· stocking density.

Holding or culture environment:
· temperature
· humidity
· light
· protection from other crocodiles
· clean, fresh drinking water
· high animal protein food (e.g. red meat)
· adequate amounts of calcium, phosphorus (for skeletal growth) and vitamins if not provided in food
· stocking density or size of other crocodiles
· pond of clean (filtered) water for swimming or complete submergence
· cover or shade
· protection from physical abuse (such as hitting with sticks, rocks, etc.)
· protection from visual disturbances, noises and predators (hatchlings)
· substrates that are not unduly abrasive (ideally should be smooth, eg concrete, fibreglass, grass)
· regular grading of hatchlings and small (raising stock) animals.

Abnormal behaviour or other indications of health problems:
· loss of weight
· loss of appetite
· inactivity
· isolation from other crocodiles
· external appearance (wounds, fungal lesions)
· loss of coordination
· death.

Treatment:
· isolation
· veterinary
· dietary
· euthanasia (by drug or shooting).

Ecologically sustainable development (ESD) principles:
· effluent waste, contaminant reductions
· prevention of escape of culture stock
· disposal of dead plant or animal matter.

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:
· behaviour of crocodiles in captivity and in the wild
· food and other requirements for captive crocodiles
· equipment and procedures for housing, feeding and handling crocodiles
· Occupational Health and Safety requirements when working with crocodiles.

Practical skills
The essential skills a person needs to perform work to the required standard includes:
· operating crocodile capture, housing, handling, feeding equipment
· maintaining and repairing basic harvesting equipment
· recognising abnormal stock behaviour.
· providing verbal report to supervisor on operation irregularities.

Licences may be required for the use of:
· vehicles
· restricted drugs
· firearms.

Literacy skills used for:
· reading and interpreting a harvest schedule
· recording harvest information.

Numeracy skills used for:
· counting stock and containers.

Critical aspects of competence
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
· handle stock in accordance with production schedule and supervisor's instructions to ensure stock suffer minimal stress and damage.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:
· equipment operation consistent with enterprise and manufacturer's guidelines
· industry code of practice.

Interdependent assessment of units
This unit may be assessed after/with:
· SFIAQUA215A - Carry out on-farm post-harvest operations
· SFIPROC305A - Slaughter and process crocodiles
· SFISTOR201B - Prepare and pack stock for live transport.

Context of assessment
Assessment is to be conducted at the workplace. Competency should be demonstrated over a period of time and involve crocodiles of a range of sizes. Where there is a range of methods and options, assessment of competency should cover those commonly used in the region.

Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
· written or oral short-answer testing
· observation of practical demonstration.

Resources required for assessment
Resources may include:
· harvest schedule
· culture structures with or in water containing stock exhibiting a range of quality parameters
· harvesting equipment and enterprise procedures
· holding and transporting equipment.