27.1.2015 Official Journal of the European Union L 20/31 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 THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Regulation (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 12242009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC ('), and in particular Article 12(1) thereof, Whereas: (1) Article 12 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 provides that emergency measures can be taken on duly justified imperative grounds of urgency relating to a serious threat to the conservation of marine biological resources. The Commission at the reasoned request of a Member State or on its own initiative, may, in order to alleviate this threat, adopt such emergency measures in the form of immediately applicable implementing acts applicable for a maximum period of six months. (2)  According to scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) as well as from the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) in the Celtic Sea, Channel, Irish Sea and southern North Sea (ICES divisions IVb,c and VIIa, d-h) suffers from a rapid decline in biomass, because of a combination of declining recruitment and increasing fishing mortality. The spawning stock biomass is converging towards the lowest historically observed level. The current fishing mortality is almost four times as high as the stock can sustain. ICES therefore advises to implement measures to reduce substantially fishing mortality throughout the range of the stock. (3)  The United Kingdom by letter of 19 December 2014 has requested that the Commission take action under Article 12 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, with a view to closing ICES area VIle to pelagic fisheries targeting sea bass during January to April 2015 in order to reduce fishing pressure by protecting the sea bass spawning aggregations. The request has been communicated to Belgium, France, Ireland, the Netherlands as well as to the North Western Waters and to the North Sea Advisory Councils. Belgium, France and the Netherlands have sent their comments to the Commission. (4)  The comments made by France relate to the applicability of Article 12 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, to threats caused by fishing activities and the procedure, to the proof of a serious threat, and to the risk of dis- crimination between fisheries. Belgium responded positively to the United Kingdom request. The Netherlands suggested the extension of actions to cover wider areas and other fisheries. With regard to the scope and the procedure of Article 12 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 it should be noted that this provision is not limited to any cause and can thus be applied to any threat, be it caused by fishing activities or by other causes, and the time limits provided for by that Article are justified by the urgency of the need to address the serious threat. The proof of a serious threat to sea bass in the case at hand is based on scientific evidence, as set out below. (5)  Sea bass aggregate in concentrations in particular areas during December to April to spawn. The sea bass stock depends on this reproduction phase. Targeted fisheries on these spawning aggregations is conducted during that period and contributes significantly to the overall fishing mortality of the stock and especially to the reduction in numbers of adult fish that can successfully reproduce. Catch statistics confirm that such fishing practice removes mainly adult fish which can therefore no longer contribute to the reproduction of this stock. (6)  According to the scientific assessment by ICES and STECF commercial fishing by pelagic trawls is responsible for more than 25 % of the fishing mortality. (7)  The finding of a serious threat to the conservation of marine biological resources follows from the risk of serious harm to the reproductive capacity of the stock, due to a steep decline of the spawning stock biomass, in combination with the expectation that continued targeted fishing may inflict unsustainable damage on the () OJL354,28.12.2013,p.22.