FTS Release 2.0.2

The current Oracle database contains one of the most comprehensive sets of data regarding the foreign trade of U.S. fishery product. The database provides NMFS, other Federal agencies, and the public with current trade statistics regarding fishery products. Users can access the data using the Foreign Trade website at http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st1/trade/ as well as some series of ad hoc queries for specific internal questions maintains by F/ST1.

Information in this system coming from different sources. The existing foreign trade database is made up the Census data; Customs and Border Protection data; American Samoa tuna imports and numerous reference tables.

Importers and exporters submit their transactions to the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection using the international Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS).We purchase the data from the Foreign Trade Division of the U.S. Census Bureau. Census is responsible for compiling the information submitted by importers and exporters to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The data are normally scheduled for release to the public 43 days after the close of the statistical month. Annually, the data manager purchases the data from the Census Bureau. This is normally done in January for the first delivery in March.

Each record consists of a commodity code, country of origin/destination code, Customs and Border Protection district of landing/unlanding code, time series, volume, and value. Additional lookup description tables are used for commodity, country, and district codes.

- The user interface needs to be enhanced to meet many new requirements.

- The needs for re-engineering the current system have been identified to improve current database design and user interface, in order to increase the efficiency of the system.

The Fisheries Statistics Division of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has maintained a foreign trade data base for many years. They have developed a series of programs that can be used to summarize U.S. foreign trade in fishery products for the years 1975 to present. In this system, you can summarize the kilos and dollar value by your choice of years, products, countries, and the type of trade.