National Certificate in Aquaculture

The National Certificate in Aquaculture is a learn-as-you-earn qualification developed by seafood companies along with the Seafood Industry Training Organisation (SITO).

The relatively young and small industry has offered the training for around four years and in that time about 30 seafood workers have graduated with a level three certificate.

NZ King Salmon training co-ordinator Grant Lovell said the training programme evolved from a move around six years ago to standardise operational practices across all the company's farms after the merger of Regal Salmon and Southern Ocean Seafoods, which then formed King Salmon.

When SITO became involved, the company's plan was developed into a training programme with national unit standards and it is now used across the industry. It can be tailored to the needs of different companies, Lovell explained.

Skills learned on the job can include the theory and practice of salmon feeding, using equipment such as cameras and the spinner or feeding system, net repairing, counting and classifying fish mortality, and biomass assessment of fin fish, which includes catching and weighing fish.

Salmon breed in fresh water and staff at hatcheries study spawning and breeding.

At a week-long, off-site block course workers study water quality testing, including understanding test results and their implications, the biology of fin fish, the history of salmon farming, and the local and global salmon farming industry.

A level three qualification can be achieved in a year. The NZQA accredited course is fully funded by companies and SITO.

Skills studied for a level four qualification include programming the feeding system and interpreting data, determining spinner settings, environmental best practice, and a course in scuba diving.

Worker competency in the skills studied is assessed by registered assessors by observation and questioning. The assessors - usually farm managers - are audited by independent moderators.

Lovell said the certificate had benefitted the industry as well as staff, many of whom were highly skilled but formerly had no recognition of those skills. Previously, staff could only state their years of industry service and be given a reference. The certificate was concrete evidence of a level of achievement that was nationally recognised and portable.

He said the qualification has sparked an interest in some staff to complete some further study and they have gone on to courses offered by the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology.

The student

* Des Mosdell
* Aquaculture supervisor
* Ruakaka Bay
* Graduated 2002

I learned heaps from it. It gives you a better understanding when you are working with nets, testing for water quality and, now, diving.

On the week-long course where you learn about the industry it really broadens your outlook because you understand the relationship of the industry in New Zealand and internationally. It gives you a pride in what you do. You feel a bit more useful. Some people get a bit nervous but the assessment process is fairly comfortable. Most people have an interest in doing the certificate because it is nationally recognised. It gives you something tangible.

The employer

* Rick Smale
* Sea farm manager
* Waihinau

The week-long course definitely enhances staff's interest in the job. I like the course because I can be sure they have got an understanding and a certain level of capability. It's a good tool that gets them up to speed in a reasonable time.

On the farm, it confirms they've learned certain tasks. Studying the global aquaculture industry on the week course gives people a bit more interest in the industry.

More skills will be added as we develop different practices and some become obsolete. At the moment we're developing diving skills.

When the course first came in there was some resentment because some people qualified who had been in the job a year or less while others had been in the industry for longer. Now, a few years on, it's become more widely accepted. It's certainly shown its worth. 


National Certificate in Aquaculture

Offered by seafood companies in conjunction with Seafood Industry Training Organisation

Phone: 04 385 4005