This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to carry out a range of stock feeding activities for aquaculture, including undertaking observations that relate to the feeding of stock.

The unit applies to individuals who undertake routine tasks in feeding stock in an aquaculture setting, by hand and/or with mechanical feeding equipment, which may incorporate operating automated feeding technology under the direction of a supervisor.

All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, according to state/territory health and safety, food safety, biosecurity and environmental regulations, legislation and standards that apply to the workplace. Licences may be required if operating load-shifting equipment, vehicles or vessels.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

An individual demonstrating competency must satisfy all of the elements and performance criteria in this unit.

There must be evidence that the individual has conducted stock feeding activities for aquaculture on at least one occasion, including:

communicated and reported on feeding activities with supervisor

prepared and loaded to feed by hand or prepared to use manual, mechanical and/or automated feeding equipment with correct quantity of feed

used the appropriate feeding techniques for stock

completed accurate records on stock and feeding observations

cleaned up work area.

An individual must be able to demonstrate the knowledge required to perform the tasks outlined in the elements and performance criteria of this unit. This includes knowledge of:

feeding techniques:

remote feeding

by hand

basic characteristics of normal and abnormal stock feeding behaviour

effects of water and environmental conditions on stock feeding behaviour

feeding equipment or technology types, handling requirements and operating methods

storage requirements to maintain quality of feed

types and quantities of feed required for workplace stock

health and safety practices and biosecurity measures used when feeding stock.

Assessment of the skills in this unit of competency must take place under the following conditions:

physical conditions:

skills must be demonstrated in an aquaculture workplace setting or an environment that accurately represents workplace conditions

resources, equipment and materials:

feeding equipment appropriate for stock and workplace

stock to feed

feed for stock

specifications:

feeding schedule and workplace procedures for feeding stock

relationship:

supervisor.

Assessors of this unit must satisfy the requirements for assessors in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards.

This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential for performance in this unit of competency but are not explicit in the performance criteria.

Aquaculture (AQU)