IMPFP140 - Conduct shellfish depuration operations

 

Overview

This standard is about the skills and knowledge needed for shellfish depuration in the shellfish processing sector. It details the skills required to prepare for and complete shellfish depuration as well as being able to take appropriate action should operating problems occur. 

You must know and understand how to work to organisational product specifications and production schedules.

This standard is for you if you are involved in the processing of fish and shellfish and deal with the depuration of shellfish.

 

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

 

Establish and maintain shellfish in depuration 

1.         Operate to the legal  or regulatory requirements, the organisational health and safety, hygiene and environmental standards and instructions 

2.         Prepare depuration system ensuring a hygienic working condition suitable for receiving shellfish is maintained 

3.         Prepare shellfish by washing and removing dead and damaged animals 

4.         Load shellfish into depuration systems at specified density 

5.         Establish water flow and sterilisation to optimise the purification process and minimise stress to shellfish 

6.         Observe shellfish for signs  of purging and report incidences where shellfish are not seen to be functioning 

7.         Maintain environmental conditions within the depuration system to achieve required purification 

8.         Maintain records of the depuration process 

 

Unload shellfish from depuration 

9.         Meet the legal  or regulatory requirements, the organisational health and safety, hygiene and environmental standards and instructions  

10.       Establish access to shellfish within the depuration unit causing minimum disturbance 

11.       Wash shellfish following depuration to minimise risk of re-contamination following depuration  

12.       Unload shellfish from depuration in a manner which minimises the stress caused to shellfish 

13.       Remove dead and damaged shellfish, minimising disturbance to the remaining shellfish 

14.       Establish shellfish in clean  storage, in preparation for dispatch

15.       Clean  depuration facility into a hygienic condition in preparation for the next shellfish batch

16.       Maintain records of shellfish depuration and dispatch, to meet legal requirements

 

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand

 

1.         what the legal or regulatory requirements, the organisational health and safety, hygiene and environmental standards and instructions are and what may happen if they are not followed 

2.         the hygiene requirements associated with the depuration process 

3.         your responsibilities under food safety legislation 

4.         the principles of shellfish depuration 

5.         why shellfish need to be washed both before and after depuration 

6.         why it is important to remove dead or damaged shellfish before depuration begins 

7.         the environmental conditions required for depuration 

8.         the classifications given to shellfish growing areas and how these impact on the depuration process 

9.         the legal requirements controlling the depuration and dispatch of shellfish 

10.       the signs which indicate that shellfish are purging 

11.       HACCP and the critical control points controlling the depuration, storage and dispatch of live shellfish 

12.       the hygiene/food safety requirements associated with depuration 

13.       how shellfish become stressed and why it is important to minimise the stress caused to shellfish 

14.       the storage conditions required to maintain quality of live shellfish 

15.       the significance of re-contamination to public health 

16.       the legal time requirements for depuration 

17.       the legal requirements controlling the dispatch of shellfish

 

Keywords: Fish, Shellfish, Seawater, Health, Safety, Hygiene.