Qualification details
Title
New Zealand Certificate in Aquaculture (Level 3) with strands in Hatchery,
Fish, and Shellfish
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 aquaculture
sector with people who are able to work as technicians or farm
assistants carrying out routine operations involving daily care,
husbandry and monitoring of fish or shellfish in an aquaculture
operation.
This qualification is for people who wish to work in the
aquaculture 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 workplace safety and environmental
requirements in an aquaculture operation.

Communicate and interact effectively with team members
and colleagues in a hatchery, fish or shellfish operation.
Graduates of the Hatchery strand will also be able to:

Carry out routine hatchery stock management, monitoring,
and hatchery activities in an aquaculture hatchery operation.
Graduates of the Fish strand will also be able to:

Carry out routine stock management, monitoring, and
farming on an aquaculture fish farm.
Graduates of the Shellfish strand will also be able to:
Outcome Statement

Carry out routine stock management, monitoring, and
farming on an aquaculture shellfish farm.
Education pathway
This qualification leads on to the New Zealand Certificate in
Aquaculture (Level 4) [Ref: 3134] with strands in Hatchery, Fish,
and Shellfish.
Employment pathway
Graduates of this qualification are likely to be employed as
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aquaculture technicians or aquaculture farm assistants.
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, including 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 - Treaty of Waitangi
(Fisheries Claims) Settlement Act 1992, Biosecurity Act 1993,
Animal Products Act 1999, Food Act 2014, Fisheries Act 1996,
Wildlife Act 1975.
Company quality, risk management, recording, and reporting;
and relevant legislation 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
Comply with workplace safety and
environmental requirements in an
aquaculture operation.
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Credits 5
2
Communicate and interact
effectively with team members
and colleagues in a hatchery, fish
or shellfish operation.
Credits 5
Hatchery strand
3
Carry out routine hatchery stock
management, monitoring, and
hatchery activities in an
aquaculture hatchery operation.
Credits 30
Fish strand
4
Carry out routine stock
management, monitoring, and
farming on an aquaculture fish
farm.
Credits 30
Shellfish strand
5
Carry out routine stock
management, monitoring, and
farming on an aquaculture
shellfish farm.
Credits 30
Transition information
Replacement information
This qualification replaced the:

National Certificate in Aquaculture (Caged Fish Farming)
(Level 3) [Ref: 1460]

National Certificate in Aquaculture (Freshwater Fish
Farming) (Level 3) [Ref: 1461]

National Certificate in Aquaculture (Introductory Fish
Farming) (Level 3) [Ref: 1459]

National Certificate in Aquaculture (Level 2) [Ref: 1063]

National Certificate in Aquaculture (Level 3) [Ref: 1620]
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
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Wellington 6143
Ph: (04)801 9616
Email: educationteam@primaryito.ac.nz
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Qualification Reference 3135
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
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