NOAA Form 370 Database

The data set contains information from submitted NOAA Form 370s, also known as the Fisheries Certificate of Origin, for imported shipments of frozen and/or processed tuna. Data collection from May 2001 to September 2016 is contained in an Access database and in hard copy format (subject to NARA disposition schedules). From September 2016 to present, data is stored in the NMFS Office of Science and Technology ITDS database. Data elements include the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) entry number, CBP entry date, HTS code, flag of catcher vessel, ocean area, gear type, and trip dates, and dolphin safe status. Non-summarized data is considered to be business confidential information and is protected from release by law.

In order to meet the statutory requirement for the effective tracking of dolphin-safe tuna (16 U.S.C 1385; Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act; DPCIA), the NMFS West Coast Regional Office administers the Tuna Tracking and Verification Program (TTVP), a program which is national in scope. Submission of the NOAA Form 370 is mandatory for all frozen and/or processed tuna importations (under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act), as well as for domestic tuna canners under the authority of the DPCIA.

Pertinent regulations are found at 50 CFR 216.24(f) and at 50 CFR 216 subpart H.

The Tuna Tracking and Verification Program operates out of the NMFS West Coast Regional Office in Long Beach, California.

New data/information is automatically downloaded daily from U.S. Customs and Border Protection servers by NMFS Office of Science and Technology servers.

Attributes define entry number, entry date, Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) Codes, tuna product weight, harvesting vessel flag, harvesting vessel trip dates, harvesting vessel gear type, ocean area of harvest, dolphin-safe status, exporter contact information, importer contact information and document compliance.

Data/information is considered to be Business Confidential.

Hard copy data are locked in secured government building. Remaining data are stored in files on government computers with all of the proper U.S. Government security measures in place.

Data access is available to Department of Commerce and to the Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection staff on a need-to-know basis. A signed non-disclosure statement is required to access the information.

Contact the West Coast Region, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Tuna Tracking and Verification Program, Long Beach, California Office.

Non-summarized data is protected from release by law (16 U.S.C 1385(f)).

All use of the data must be cleared with the NMFS Tuna Tracking and Verification Program.

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Information from NOAA 370s obtained via hardcopy from 2000 to 2016 is contained in a Microsoft Access database. Information from September 2016 to present is contained in the Agency's ITDS database.

Data is self-reported by industry to satisfy regulatory requirements.

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Data entered by the TTVP review team is subject to range limits pre-described for various data elements. Data submitted by industry, is reviewed for consistency and completeness and, for certain data elements, subject to criteria range limits set forth by the TTVP review team.

Manual processing and verification requirement for cannery receipt data. One day delay of data obtained from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Determining the appropriate NCEI repository, if applicable.

Secured network

For all imports of frozen and/or processed tuna into the United States, Message Set data and the NOAA Form 370 are uploaded by the importer's customs broker into U.S. Customs and Border Protection servers. This information is then auto downloaded the next day by NMFS Office of Science and Technology (ST) servers and is available for review the same day. Review by the Tuna Tracking and Verification Program (TTVP) team reviews the information and enters certain fields of the NOAA Form 370 into the NMFS ITDS Database. For U.S. domestic tuna cannery receipts, reports are sent directly to the TTVP. Reports are due by the last day of the month following the month being reported. Data is currently uploaded annually into NMFS ST servers. However, plans are being prepared for uploads on a quarterly or monthly basis.