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.

Scientific quantities:
· total counts, fractions, decimals, percentages and proportions
· mean, median and mode
· trends
· ratios
· measurements to support specific research projects
· conversion factors of species.

Methods of analysis:
· inductive
· deductive
· comparative
· root cause
· statistical.

Possible cause and effect issues:
· fishing pressure and effort
· environmental and ecological influences
· fishing equipment and techniques
· changed fishing practices such as into wind, across wind and depth
· seabird abundance
· interaction with seals, turtles and dolphins
· equipment faults and calibration errors
· equipment reading errors and faulty measuring and sampling techniques.

Appropriate formats:
· written reports and memos
· worksheets
· journals
· logbooks
· databases
· spreadsheets
· tables
· charts
· graphs.

Communication channels:
· routine oral and written briefings
· journals and logs
· written reports and memos
· special written reports on unusual occurrences
· radio
· satellite telephone
· email.

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:
· commercial fisheries and unique aspects relevant to the fishery, sector or geographic area
· species, product, work regime and typical equipment used
· fisheries management methodologies and associated data requirements
· basic environmental management procedures, regulations and codes of practice relevant to the specific sector within the seafood industry
· broad knowledge of ecologically sustainable development principles and practices
· fisheries research methodologies and the application of scientific data
· basic statistical analyses
· inductive and deductive reasoning processes.

Practical skills
The essential skills a person needs to perform work to the required standard include:
· analysing, recording and reporting scientific data and samples to enhance research and fisheries and environmental management
· critical thinking to identify and analyse trends and other non-standard findings from data collection and to draw logical conclusions as to likely causes and effects.

Literacy skills used for:
· presenting and recording data and findings in formats appropriate for scientific and management uses
· reporting the results of observations during cruises to interested stakeholders.

Numeracy skills used for:
· conducting measurements, estimations and analyses of data and samples collected during on-board observations.

Critical aspects of competence
Assessment must confirm the ability to analyse data from on-board observations and to draw reasonable conclusions about the impact of fishing on the resource, the ecosystem and the wider environment.

Assessment must confirm the ability to:
· apply basic statistical analyses to raw data
· perform relevant calculations and analyses of data and samples collected
· follow relevant plans, procedures and protocols
· recognise non-standard samples and observations and assess possible causes and effects
· present results in formats suitable for scientific and management purposes
· report findings that identify and provide possible explanations for unusual observations.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:
· the Australian fishing industry, including major species, fishing methods and equipment
· fisheries research methodologies and the use of scientific data
· fisheries and environmental management strategies
· biological sampling techniques and other data-collection methodologies
· analytical techniques
· basic statistical analysis.

Interdependent assessment of units
This unit is best assessed in conjunction with other units relating to data collection and on-board observation of fishing activity.

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 questions to assess underpinning knowledge
· practical exercises involving the analysis of sets of data and samples to identify trends and likely impacts on resources
· examples of records and reports prepared by the candidate to illustrate analytical and reasoning capability
· third-party reports including reports from cruise crew members, fisheries managers and scientists.

Resources required for assessment
Resources may include:
· relevant documentation such as:
· observation procedures and protocols
· data collection and sampling plans
· recording and reporting forms.