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.

Placement of observers on board:
· foreign fishing vessels
· Australian registered vessels
· tuna long lines
· squid jiggers
· trawl vessels
· operations within Australian fishing zones
· operations on the high seas.

Compliance with conditions:
· compliance with permits and agreements
· conduct of fishing operations in approved areas
· use of fishing equipment and gear approved for the fishery
· maintenance of approved levels of fishing effort.

Range of work conditions:
· short notice to travel
· embarkation at any Australian port
· varying durations of cruises, typically two weeks to two months
· long, irregular hours on deck, typically working up to ten hours a day, seven days a week
· isolation
· unfamiliar customs and language
· unfamiliar food
· difficult work and sleeping conditions
· transference between vessels at sea.

Observations:
· long line:
· time of set
· quantities of bait
· snood lengths
· hook sizes
· environmental conditions
· presence of seabirds
· tangles in setting bins
· baits at surface
· trawl:
· time at hand
· weight
· quantity
· percentage of bin
· by-catch
· gilled fish
· other commercial fishing operations.

Unusual or irregular events:
· law breaking or breach of permit conditions
· by-catch
· catch of sea birds and marine mammals
· catch of unexpected species
· unusual environmental conditions
· unusual biological features of catch, including size, weight and age
· inefficient fishing techniques (as an explanation of catch rates).

Safety procedures:
· following all on-board safety procedures
· minimising risks
· wearing personal protection and flotation equipment
· locating a safe work area free from hazards
· avoiding interfering with fishing operations
· keeping crew informed of activities
· communicating regularly with shore-based supervisors.

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 legislation, 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
· data collection, measurement and sampling methodologies
· radio and telephone communication systems at sea
· relationship of observation activities to fisheries management processes.

Practical skills
The essential skills a person needs to perform work to the required standard include:
· identifying a range of species, seafood/aquatic products, equipment and resources relevant to the industry, sector or geographic area
· recording fishing activity, catch, effort and other relevant information according to set protocols and plans and in an accurate and detailed manner
· demonstrating capacity and judgement to identify unusual or irregular events and to suggest possible causes and effects that may have implications for fisheries research and management
· estimating, measuring and sampling fishing operations and production.

Literacy skills used for:
· written and oral communication and liaison
· recording, reporting and debriefing on cruise activities
· engaging vessel crew in cooperating with the collection and interpretation of information.

Numeracy skills used for:
· estimating catch and effort
· measuring biological features of species and environmental conditions
· conducting measurements and sampling of catch and other relevant variables.

Critical aspects of competence
Assessment must confirm the ability to complete a range of on-board observations, measurements and sampling tasks over time, according to set protocols and plans and under difficult and arduous work conditions.

Assessment must confirm the ability to:
· employ quality information-collection processes that produce data that is valid and comparable to data from other sources
· follow the observation, data collection and sampling routines outlined in cruise plans
· identify relevant information and findings likely to be of interest for scientific and resource/environmental-management purposes
· engage vessel crew in cooperating with the collection and interpretation of information
· cope with disruptions and changed circumstances by modifying work plans in consultation with relevant personnel
· recognise non-standard events, data and samples and suggest possible causes and effects
· record and report observations in appropriate formats and within the required timeframe.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:
· the Australian fishing industry, including fishing methods, equipment and major species
· fisheries research methodologies and the importance of accurate, complete and comprehensive scientific data
· fisheries and environmental management strategies
· measurement and biological sampling techniques and other data collection methodologies designed to capture information of use to scientific research and fisheries management.

Interdependent assessment of units
This unit is best assessed in conjunction with other units relating to data collection and the 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 design and conduct of measurement and sampling processes
· examples of records, reports and other documentation completed by the candidate
· observation of the candidate while conducting on-board observations
· third-party reports, including reports from shore-based supervisors and cruise crew members.

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