Qualification details
Title
New Zealand Certificate in Seafood Processing (Level 3) with strands in Fish
and Fish Products, Live Holding, Cleaning and Sanitation, and Seafood
Logistics
Version
1
Qualification type
Certificate
Level
3
Credits
40
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
processing sector with people who are able to work as operators
carrying out routine operations involving either seafood
processing, live holding, cleaning and sanitation, or logistics in a
seafood processing operation on land or at sea.
This qualification is suitable for people who wish to work in the
seafood processing industry, and to provide formal recognition
for the skills of those already working within the industry.
Graduates will be capable of working under limited supervision
with responsibility for their own work outcomes.
Graduate profile
Graduates will be able to:

Comply with hygiene and quality assurance including food
safety requirements in a seafood operation.

Communicate and interact effectively with team members
and colleagues in a seafood processing operation.
Graduates of the Fish and Fish Product strand will also be able
to:

Carry out routine fish and fish product handling and
processing activities on land or at sea, and/or point of sale.
Graduates of the Live Holding strand will also be able to:
Outcome Statement

Qualification Reference 3130
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
Carry out routine stock management, monitoring, and live
holding activities in fish or fish product live holding
operations.
Graduates of the Cleaning and Sanitation strand will also be able
to:

Carry out routine seafood processing equipment and
environs cleaning and sanitation procedures.
Graduates of the Seafood Logistics strand will also be able to:
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
Carry out routine seafood preparation for transport and
storage, and implement transport and storage options.
Education pathway
This qualification leads on to the New Zealand Certificate in
Seafood Processing (Level 4) [Ref: 3131].
Employment pathway
Graduates of this qualification are likely to be employed as
operators in a seafood processing operation on land or at sea.
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)
None.
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, Treaty of Waitangi (Fisheries Claims) Settlement Act
1992.
Company quality, risk management, recording, and reporting;
and relevant legislation apply across all outcomes.
The behaviours that contribute to compliance with workplace
procedures, teamwork, and commercial standards and
timeframes are inherent in the performance of the qualification’s
outcomes and must be considered as part of the assessment
Qualification Reference 3130
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
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process.
Fish is defined in the Fisheries Act and means all species of
finfish (including eels, sharks, etc) and shellfish, which includes
all echinoderms, molluscs and crustaceans.
Conditions relating to the Graduate profile
Qualification outcomes
1
Conditions
Comply with hygiene and quality
assurance including food safety
requirements in a seafood
operation.
Credits 5
2
Communicate and interact
effectively with team members
and colleagues in a seafood
processing operation.
Credits 5
Fish and Fish Products strand
3
Carry out routine fish and fish
product handling and processing
activities on land or at sea, and/or
point of sale.
Credits 30
Fish and fish products encompass all seafood and freshwater
species that are harvested and processed commercially, and
cover all situations regardless of what species was being
processed. Evidence of fish and fish products is required for
one species.
Live Holding strand
4
Carry out routine stock
management, monitoring, and
live holding activities in fish or fish
product live holding operations.
Credits 30
Fish and fish products encompass all seafood and freshwater
species that are harvested and processed commercially, and
cover all situations regardless of what species was being
processed. Evidence of fish and fish products is required for
one species.
Cleaning and Sanitation strand
5
Carry out routine seafood
processing equipment and
environs cleaning and sanitation
procedures.
Credits 30
Seafood Logistics strand
6
Carry out routine seafood
preparation for transport and
storage, and implement transport
and storage options.
Qualification Reference 3130
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
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Credits 30
Transition information
Replacement information
This qualification partly replaced the:

National Certificate in Seafood Processing (Storage) [Ref:
1645]
The last date for entry into programmes leading to the replaced qualification is 31 December 2018. The
last date for award of the replaced qualification is 31 December 2020 at which time it 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: edcuationteam@primaryito.ac.nz
Qualification Reference 3130
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
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