Seafood industry

Since April 2023, we have been working with industry to review the suite of Seafood qualifications to ensure that they meet industry needs. We are taking a new approach based on partnering with industry, iwi Māori and vocational education providers to review and develop qualifications, standards and micro-credentials, in parallel with the programmes to deliver them.

Having a fit for purpose, flexible, and future-proof suite of qualifications for the Seafood industry will ensure ākonga (learners) are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and attributes to succeed.

View the General Qualification Process and FAQs: Seafood qualification review information sheet.

Review scope:

This will be a review of the Seafood Processing, Commercial Fishing, and Aquaculture qualifications.

View initial review summary: Executive Summary

Key steps:

April 2023 – Expressions of Interest sent for industry, iwi Māori and vocational education provider representation.

May – June – Working and Steering groups are set up and meet online.

July – Seafood Qualification Review in-person hui held in Nelson.

August – September – New qualification suite structures socialised with Working and Steering group members.

October – Consultation document and draft qualifications structures are developed and published.

November – Qualifications and Micro credentials and priority skill standards due to be submitted to NZQA.

December 2023 – January 2024 – NZQA publishes qualifications and micro-credentials and priority skill standards.

February – April 2024 – Skill standard development to replace existing unit standards as necessary.

Milestones:

• NEW New Zealand Certificate in Seafood Operations (Aquaculture, Commercial Fishing, General, Quality Control and Compliance, Seafood Processing) (Level 3)
• NEW New Zealand Certificate in Advanced Seafood Operations (Aquaculture, Commercial Fishing, General, Resource Management and Quality Control, and Seafood Processing) (Level 4)
• Existing New Zealand Certificate in Seafood with strands in Aquaculture, Seafood Processing, and Commercial Fishing (Level 5) review date to be extended.
• NEW Introduction to Aquaculture micro-credential (Level 2, 20 credits)
• NEW Introduction to Commercial Fishing micro-credential (Level 2, 25 credits)
• NEW Introduction to Seafood Processing micro-credential (Level 2, 30 credits)
• Existing 280+ Seafood-related unit standards have had their review date extended to ensure that they continue to be available for assessment. This ensures that provision against the current qualifications can continue while we work on getting the new qualifications and related products online.

Update February 2024:

• Three new micro-credentials at Level 2 have been submitted to NZQA. The purpose of these micro-credentials is to provide formal recognition of the entry level skills and knowledge required to enter a career in the commercial fishing, seafood processing or aquaculture sectors in New Zealand/Aotearoa. The micro-credentials provide a training framework for new or potential entrants into the Seafood industry, including seasonal workers, career changers and those not yet engaged in education, employment or training.
  The micro-credentials submitted are:
  • Introduction to Aquaculture (Level 2, 20 credits)
  • Introduction to Commercial Fishing (Level 2, 25 credits)
  • Introduction to Seafood Processing (Level 2, 30 credits)

• 280 existing Seafood-related unit standards have been rolled over (had their review date extended) to ensure that they continue to be available for assessment. This ensures that provision against the current qualifications can continue while we work on getting the new qualifications and related products online.

• The Steering and Working Groups have reconvened to begin work in earnest on the micro-credentials and skill standards at Levels 3, 4 and 5. The micro-credentials will be designed so that they can stack within the proposed new qualifications, allowing for greater flexibility of delivery and allowing for different points of entry and exit for ākonga/learners. The skill standards will be designed to maximise skills transfer for learners, as well as clearly articulate the skills required of Seafood industry workers. The development of these products will rely heavily on Subject Matter Experts currently working in the industry.

Update May 2024:

• We have now started the development of micro-credentials and skill standards to support the newly proposed qualifications. A steering group and the first two working groups were established, and their first hui now complete. Subject matter experts (SME) have been confirmed for the working group topics and they are about to start developing skill standards and micro-credentials with our analysts. Working groups will be established as we need them.
• Feedback from our wider consultation group told us that the Level 5 micro-credentials and their associated skill standards were a priority so ākonga could have something to move on to from the existing qualifications. The core subjects for level 3 and 4 were identified as the next highest priority. Aquaculture micro-credential development will be the last to be developed because the existing products are relatively new. This means the working groups for Commercial Fishing, Seafood Processing and quality/compliance will be set up later in the year, as we progress through the project. We have a busy month ahead. SMEs will start assisting our team in developing the first products for Level 5 and the core subjects.

Please reach out if you are interested in knowing more about the Seafood qualification review and how you can contribute – it’s not too late to get on board: [email protected]