Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Amendment 12 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP); Amendment 8 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish FMP; and Amendment 12 to the Atlantic Surf Clam and Ocean Quahog FMP

NMFS issues this final rule to implement the approved portions of Amendment 12 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP); Amendment 8 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish FMP; and Amendment 12 to the Atlantic Surf Clam and Ocean Quahog FMP. This rule would implement framework provisions for amending management measures for these fisheries, restrict the size of domestic harvesting vessels permitted in the Atlantic mackerel fishery without restricting the size of processing vessels, and implement an operator permit requirement for the surf clam and ocean quahog fisheries. The purpose of these amendments is to meet the requirements of the Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA) of October 1996 (SFA).