Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
23/07/2026 4:17 PM AWST
23/07/2026 4:17 PM 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.
Oversee the control of predators and pests
Oversee the control of predators and pests
Unit of competency
National Code
SFIAQUA316A
SFIAQUA316A
State Code
D9145
D9145
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
27/02/2012
Field of Education
050701 - Aquaculture
Original Release Date
27/02/2012
Nominal Hours
30
Description
This unit of competency involves overseeing the monitoring and prevention of predators and pests and selecting the appropriate control measures should infestations or problems occur.Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this unit. Therefore it will be necessary to check with the relevant state or territory regulators for current licensing, legislative or regulatory requirements before undertaking this unit.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Diagnose predator and pest infestations or problems
- 1.1. Hazard identification, assessment and risk control procedures for the workplace are implemented and monitored.
- 1.2. Appropriate PPE is provided, used and maintained.
- 1.3. Stock are monitored for a range of health problems.
- 1.4. Where appropriate, injured or unhealthy stock are diagnosed and checked against specialist advice where doubt exists.
- 1.5. Professional advice is obtained where the complexity of the problem or the severity of infestation dictates.
- 1.6. Predator or pest infestations or problems are investigated and stock deaths reported.
- 1.7. Observations are made which support a systematic and comprehensive analysis of available symptoms.
- 1.8. Samples are collected for laboratory diagnosis, where necessary, according to laboratory specifications.
- 1.9. Conclusions drawn from relevant information are based on appropriate evidence and reasoned decisions.
2. Select control measures for the treatment of predators or pests
- 2.1. Predator or pest control methods suited to environmental conditions and severity of infestation or problem are selected.
- 2.2. Preventative measures are selected and implemented, where appropriate, to minimise spread of infestation or problem.
3. Treat affected stock
- 3.1. Feedback from external analysis of samples is understood.
- 3.2. Action is taken or medication given according to veterinary guidelines, including obtaining appropriate approval for use of restricted medication.
- 3.3. Withholding periods of medications are complied with as required.
- 3.4. Infestations or outbreaks are monitored and progress compared with manufacturer specifications and enterprise industry records.
- 3.5. Treatment programs are modified, where necessary, and records maintained.
- 3.6. Senior personnel are notified promptly of significant changes to treatments.
4. Monitor and review post-predator or pest treatment or control activities and operations
- 4.1. Clean up of work area, including repairs and storage of equipment, is supervised and condition report prepared.
- 4.2. Relevant predator or pest treatment or control data, observations or information are recorded legibly and accurately, and any out of range or unusual records are checked.
- 4.3. Compliance and other required reports are prepared and conveyed to senior personnel advising of the effectiveness of predator or pest treatment or control, and recommendations made for improvements.
- 4.4. Staff are given feedback on their work performance.
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.
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.
Relevant government regulations, licensing and other compliance requirements may include:
biodiversity and genetically modified organisms
biosecurity, translocation and quarantine
Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) and other import requirements
business or workplace operations, policies and practices
ESD principles, environmental hazard identification, risk assessment and control
fisheries or aquaculture regulations, permits and licences
health and welfare of aquatic animals
Indigenous land rights and cultural activities, including fishing by traditional methods
OHS hazard identification, risk assessment and control.
OHS guidelines may include:
appropriate workplace provision of first aid kits and fire extinguishers
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
equipment design, use, cleaning and maintenance
exporting requirements, including AQIS Export Control (Fish) orders
handling and disposal of condemned or recalled seafood products
Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (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:
applying animal welfare ethics and procedures
control of effluents, chemical residues, contaminants, wastes and pollution
control of weeds, pests, predators and diseases, stock health maintenance
improving energy efficiency
increasing use of renewable, recyclable and recoverable resources
minimising noise, dust, light or odour emissions
preventing live cultured or held organisms from escaping into environment
reducing emissions of greenhouse gases
reducing energy use
reducing interactions with native and protected flora and fauna, marine or land parks or areas
reducing use of non-renewable resources
undertaking environmental hazard identification, risk assessment and control
undertaking facility quarantine, biosecurity and translocation of livestock and genetic material
using and recycling water, and maintaining water quality
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)
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 outdoor clothing for tropical conditions
respirator or face mask
safety harness
sun protection (e.g. sun hat, sunscreen and sunglasses)
uniforms or overalls
waterproof clothing (e.g. wet weather gear and waders).
Predator and pest infestationsor problems may be:
airborne, terrestrial or water based
amphibians, teleosts, reptiles, birds, elasmobranches and mammals
competitors (e.g. food, space, shelter and oxygen)
fouling organisms
human (e.g. poachers)
organisms which negatively impact on the production of the cultured or held stock
plants (e.g. weeds), seaweed and micro-algae
starfish, crustaceans, jellyfish, insects and other invertebrates.
Diagnosed may be by:
dissection of stock
microscope, binocular or stage
visual inspection.
Predator control methods may include:
airguns and other auditory measures
biological deterrence (e.g. hawks and dogs)
elimination (e.g. firearms and powerheads) or chemical bait or poisoning
human activity
netting, fences and exclusion devices, and barriers (mechanical or electrical)
reduce stress (e.g. provide cover, hides, shelters and habitat)
scare lines and kites
traps, capture and relocation.
Pest control methods may include:
biological control (e.g. cleaner fish)
chemical barriers (e.g. foot baths)
chemical control
disinfection of equipment
exclusion, trapping and poisoning
filtration and ozonation or water treatment
medication in food
reduce stress (e.g. provide cover, hides, shelters and habitat).
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.
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.
Relevant government regulations, licensing and other compliance requirements may include:
biodiversity and genetically modified organisms
biosecurity, translocation and quarantine
Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) and other import requirements
business or workplace operations, policies and practices
ESD principles, environmental hazard identification, risk assessment and control
fisheries or aquaculture regulations, permits and licences
health and welfare of aquatic animals
Indigenous land rights and cultural activities, including fishing by traditional methods
OHS hazard identification, risk assessment and control.
OHS guidelines may include:
appropriate workplace provision of first aid kits and fire extinguishers
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
equipment design, use, cleaning and maintenance
exporting requirements, including AQIS Export Control (Fish) orders
handling and disposal of condemned or recalled seafood products
Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (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:
applying animal welfare ethics and procedures
control of effluents, chemical residues, contaminants, wastes and pollution
control of weeds, pests, predators and diseases, stock health maintenance
improving energy efficiency
increasing use of renewable, recyclable and recoverable resources
minimising noise, dust, light or odour emissions
preventing live cultured or held organisms from escaping into environment
reducing emissions of greenhouse gases
reducing energy use
reducing interactions with native and protected flora and fauna, marine or land parks or areas
reducing use of non-renewable resources
undertaking environmental hazard identification, risk assessment and control
undertaking facility quarantine, biosecurity and translocation of livestock and genetic material
using and recycling water, and maintaining water quality
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)
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 outdoor clothing for tropical conditions
respirator or face mask
safety harness
sun protection (e.g. sun hat, sunscreen and sunglasses)
uniforms or overalls
waterproof clothing (e.g. wet weather gear and waders).
Predator and pest infestationsor problems may be:
airborne, terrestrial or water based
amphibians, teleosts, reptiles, birds, elasmobranches and mammals
competitors (e.g. food, space, shelter and oxygen)
fouling organisms
human (e.g. poachers)
organisms which negatively impact on the production of the cultured or held stock
plants (e.g. weeds), seaweed and micro-algae
starfish, crustaceans, jellyfish, insects and other invertebrates.
Diagnosed may be by:
dissection of stock
microscope, binocular or stage
visual inspection.
Predator control methods may include:
airguns and other auditory measures
biological deterrence (e.g. hawks and dogs)
elimination (e.g. firearms and powerheads) or chemical bait or poisoning
human activity
netting, fences and exclusion devices, and barriers (mechanical or electrical)
reduce stress (e.g. provide cover, hides, shelters and habitat)
scare lines and kites
traps, capture and relocation.
Pest control methods may include:
biological control (e.g. cleaner fish)
chemical barriers (e.g. foot baths)
chemical control
disinfection of equipment
exclusion, trapping and poisoning
filtration and ozonation or water treatment
medication in food
reduce stress (e.g. provide cover, hides, shelters and habitat).
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:
organise staff assisting with predator or pest control
select control methods in line with enterprise guidelines
respond to outbreaks of pests or attack by predators in such a way as to minimise loss or harm to stock
protect or prevent stock being harmed by predators or pests.
Assessment must confirm knowledge of:
characteristics, signs and symptoms of predator attacks or pest infestations on cultured or held stock
life cycles and behaviour of families of predators
life cycles and physiology of families of pests
methods for prevention and control of outbreaks of predators or pests.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment is to be conducted at the workplace or in a simulated work environment and should reflect the range of controls and preventative measures used on predators or pests typically threatening cultured or held stock in the local area.
Resources may include:
culture or holding structures and stock
equipment for controlling or preventing predators or pests from harming stock
treatments or products used in the control of predators or pests
microscopes and dissecting instruments
research reference material
staff to coordinate.
Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
case study analysis
project (work or scenario based)
research assignment
written or oral short-answer testing.
Guidance information for assessment
This unit may be assessed holistically with RTE3704A Coordinate worksite activities, and other units within a qualification.
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:
organise staff assisting with predator or pest control
select control methods in line with enterprise guidelines
respond to outbreaks of pests or attack by predators in such a way as to minimise loss or harm to stock
protect or prevent stock being harmed by predators or pests.
Assessment must confirm knowledge of:
characteristics, signs and symptoms of predator attacks or pest infestations on cultured or held stock
life cycles and behaviour of families of predators
life cycles and physiology of families of pests
methods for prevention and control of outbreaks of predators or pests.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment is to be conducted at the workplace or in a simulated work environment and should reflect the range of controls and preventative measures used on predators or pests typically threatening cultured or held stock in the local area.
Resources may include:
culture or holding structures and stock
equipment for controlling or preventing predators or pests from harming stock
treatments or products used in the control of predators or pests
microscopes and dissecting instruments
research reference material
staff to coordinate.
Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
case study analysis
project (work or scenario based)
research assignment
written or oral short-answer testing.
Guidance information for assessment
This unit may be assessed holistically with RTE3704A Coordinate worksite activities, and other units within a qualification.
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| OAS31 | SFIAQU310 | Apply control measures for predators and pests | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| W988 | SFI40111 | Certificate IV in Aquaculture | Qualification |
| W986 | SFI30111 | Certificate III in Aquaculture | Qualification |
| W987 | SFI30211 | Certificate III in Fishing Operations | Qualification |