28.3.2015 Official Journal of the European Union L 84/1 II (Non-legislative acts) REGULATIONS COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) 2015/523 of 25 March 2015 amending Regulations (EU) No 432014 and (EU) 2015/104 as regards certain fishing opportunities THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43(3) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, Whereas: (1)  Council Regulation (EU) 2015/104 (*) does not contain limits on fishing opportunities for the stock of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) in the north-east Atlantic. (2)  In June 2014, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) released scientific advice on the stock on sea bass in the north-east Atlantic, and confirmed that this stock has been in rapid decline since 2012. Furthermore, the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) has evaluated the protection of sea bass by national measures in place and, in general, has deemed those measures ineffective. Sea bass is a late maturing and slow growing species. The fishing mortality on sea bass in the north-east Atlantic is currently four times higher than the level which would ensure maximum sustainable yield (MSY). (3)  The Commission has adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/111 (3, based on Article 12 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (), to alleviate a serious threat to the conservation of the sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) stock in the Celtic Sea, Channel, Irish Sea and southern North Sea. Also recreational fisheries contribute significantly to the fishing mortality on that stock. It is therefore appropriate to establish fishing opportunities in the form of a daily limit on the number of fish that a recreational fisherman may retain. Recreational fisheries include various forms, such as fishing from a recreational vessel or fishing from shore. (4)  In order to avoid interpretation problems, Article 7(1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2015/104 should be formulated so as to correspond to the wording in Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013. (5)  Catch limits for sand eel in Union waters of ICES zones Ila, Illa and IV were set at zero in Annex IA to Regulation (EU) 2015/104, pending advice from the ICES. ICES advice on the stock has been available since 23 February 2015, and it is now possible to set a total allowable catch (TAC) for sand eel in this area, distributed in seven management areas in order to avoid local depletion. (") Council Regulation (EU) 2015/104 of 19 January 2015 fixing for 2015 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union vessels, in certain non-Union waters, amending Regulation (EU) No 43/2014 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 779/2014 (OJ L 22, 28.1.2015, p. 1). (*) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/111 of 26 January 2015 establishing measures to alleviate a serious threat to the conservation of the sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) stock in the Celtic Sea, Channel, Irish Sea and southern North Sea (OJ L 20, 27.1.2015, J31). é) FP){egulaltion (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC (O] L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 22).