Qualification details
Title
New Zealand Certificate in Seafood (Level 5) with strands in Aquaculture,
Seafood Processing, and Commercial Fishing
Version
1
Qualification type
Certificate
Level
5
Credits
70
NZSCED
030308 - Engineering and Related Technologies > Process and
Resources Engineering > Seafood Processing
Qualification developer
Primary ITO
Next review
December 2020
Approval date
April 2016
Strategic purpose statement
The purpose of this qualification is to provide the seafood sector
with people who are able to work as technical specialists,
supervisors or operational managers involved in planning and
managing an aquaculture, seafood processing operation on land
or at sea, or harvesting or fishing activities.
This qualification is for people who are already working in the
aquaculture, seafood processing or commercial fishing industries
and wish to gain the skills to move to a specialist technical role.
The seafood sector will benefit from having established
standards of specialist technical performance for specific seafood
operations that can provide domestic and/or international
markets with confidence in a quality range of seafood products.
Graduates will be capable of operating at a specialist technical
level without supervision, and will have responsibility for
managing others.
Graduate profile
Graduates will be able to:

Plan and manage seafood legislative food, health and safety
requirements, and organisation policies and procedures to
ensure safe, compliant, sustainable, and efficient operations.
Outcome Statement
Graduates of the Aquaculture strand will also be able to:
Qualification Reference 3129
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016

Plan and manage advanced aquaculture processes, and site
procedures in aquaculture operations.
Graduates of the Seafood Processing strand will also be able to:

Plan and manage seafood processing, and product quality
operations.
Graduates of the Commercial Fishing strand will also be able to:
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
Education pathway
Plan and manage fishing operations.
The Aquaculture strand builds on the New Zealand Certificate in
Aquaculture (Level 4) with strands in Hatchery, Fish and Shellfish
[Ref: 3134].
The Seafood Processing strand builds on the New Zealand
Certificate in Seafood Processing (Level 4) [Ref: 3131].
The Commercial Fishing strand builds on the New Zealand
Certificate in Commercial Fishing (Level 4) [Ref: 3132].
This qualification leads on to generic management qualifications
in a range of disciplines.
Employment pathway
This qualification leads to employment as a technical specialist,
supervisor or operational manager in an aquaculture, seafood
processing operation on land or at sea, or on a fishing vessel.
Other technical specialist roles could include those responsible
for the maintenance and repair of fishing equipment on land or at
sea, and people undertaking a fisheries observer role outside of
the role covered by the Ministry of Primary Industries.
Qualification specifications
Qualification award
This qualification can be awarded by any education organisation
which has an approved programme of study or industry training
programme leading to the qualification.
Evidence requirements for
assuring consistency
Evidence of the following must be provided:

Student feedback on course delivery and qualification
achievement, their perception of the value of the training, and
suggestions for improvements.

Feedback from employers on the level of skills, knowledge
and behaviour demonstrated by graduates of the
qualification.

Evidence of effective internal quality assurance systems.

Portfolios of work and/or assessment samples demonstrating
the range of student performance within a programme.
Tertiary Education Organisations (TEOs) can also provide any
other relevant evidence that supports the consistency review.
Minimum standard of
achievement and standards for
grade endorsements
Achieved. Must include at least one of the strands.
Other requirements for the
qualification (including regulatory
body or legislative requirements)
To complete the Aquaculture strand it is recommended that
candidates hold the New Zealand Certificate in Aquaculture
(Level 4) with strands in Hatchery, Fish and Shellfish [Ref: 3134].
To complete the Seafood Processing strand it is recommended
that candidates hold the New Zealand Certificate in Seafood
Qualification Reference 3129
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
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Processing (Level 4) [Ref: 3131].
To complete the Commercial Fishing strand it is recommended
that candidates hold the New Zealand Certificate in Commercial
Fishing (Level 4) [Ref: 3132].
General conditions for the programme leading to the qualification
General conditions for
programme
TEOs offering programmes leading to this qualification must
maintain currency with amendments to, and replacements of,
relevant legislation, regulations, and codes of practice which may
include some or all of the following - Health and Safety in
Employment (HSE) Act 1992, Treaty of Waitangi (Fisheries
Claims) Settlement Act 1992, Biosecurity Act 1993, Animal
Products Act 1999, Food Act 2014, Fisheries Act 1996, Wildlife
Act 1975, Resource Management Act 1991.
Company quality, risk management, environmental and hygiene
requirements; and relevant legislation including health and
safety, apply across all outcomes.
The behaviours that contribute to compliance with workplace
procedures, and commercial standards and timeframes are
inherent in the performance of the qualification’s outcomes and
must be considered as part of the assessment process.
Conditions relating to the Graduate profile
Qualification outcomes
1
Conditions
Plan and manage seafood
legislative food, health and
safety requirements, and
organisation policies and
procedures to ensure safe,
compliant, sustainable, and
efficient operations
Credits 10
Aquaculture strand
2
Plan and manage advanced
aquaculture processes, and site
procedures in aquaculture
operations
Credits 60
Programmes may include the following topics:

Waste management

Environmental management

Product quality
Seafood Processing strand
3
Plan and manage seafood
processing, and product quality
operations
Qualification Reference 3129
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
Programmes may include the following topics:

Traceability
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Credits 60

Productivity and yield

Product quality sampling

Microbiology

Processing technologies

Site management

Electronic certification
Commercial Fishing strand
4
Plan and manage fishing
operations
Programmes may include the following topics:

Net design and construction
Credits 60

Machinery – operation, maintenance

Productivity, yield

Harvesting, fishing, and handling technologies

Annual Catch Entitlement (ACE) co-ordination

Catch assessment and/or calculations
Transition information
Replacement information
This qualification replaced the:

National Certificate in Seafood Risk Management (Vessel
Operations Compliance) (Level 5) [Ref: 1394]

National Certificate in Seafood Risk Management (Vessel
Operations Compliance) (Level 6) [Ref: 1395]

National Certificate in Seafood Vessel Operations (Factory
Trawler Technician) (Level 4) [Ref: 0842]

National Diploma in Seafood Vessel Operations (Factory
Trawler Technician) (Level 6) [Ref: 0843]

National Certificate in Seafood Vessel Operations (Fisheries
Observer) (Level 4) [Ref: 1357]
The last date for entry into programmes leading to the replaced qualifications is 31 December 2018. The
last date for award of the replaced qualifications is 31 December 2020 at which time they will be
designated as discontinued.
It is the intention of Primary ITO that no existing learner should be disadvantaged by these transition
arrangements. Any person who considers they have been disadvantaged may appeal to the Primary ITO .
PO Box 10383
The Terrace
Wellington 6143
Ph: (04) 801 9616
Email: educationteam@primaryito.ac.nz
Qualification Reference 3129
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
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