Commission on Limits of Continental Shelf to Convene
NEW YORK, 3 July (United Nations, Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea) — The Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) is set to convene its sixty-fourth session from July 7 to August 8 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. This session will include plenary meetings scheduled for July 14-18 and July 28-August 1, alongside technical examinations of various submissions by subcommissions. Notably, Mr. Stig-Morten Knutsen from Norway will participate for the first time after his recent election as a member of the Commission.
Submissions from Coastal States
During this session, eleven subcommissions will review submissions from several coastal states. These submissions include requests from Mauritius regarding Rodrigues Island, Palau concerning the North Area, and Spain related to Galicia. Other submissions come from Namibia, Mozambique, Madagascar, and Mexico, which pertains to the eastern polygon in the Gulf of Mexico. Additionally, Brazil has revised its submissions regarding the Brazilian Oriental and Meridional Margin, while the Cook Islands will discuss the Manihiki Plateau. The Russian Federation will also present its submission related to the Gakkel Ridge in the Arctic Ocean.
Coastal states that have yet to submit their requests are encouraged to do so during the plenary sessions. Denmark has already accepted the invitation to present its submission concerning the Southern Continental Shelf of Greenland, and India will provide an amended submission.
Elections and Leadership Updates
As part of the session’s agenda, the Commission will elect its officers for the latter half of the current term, which will conclude in 2025. This includes the election of a new Chairperson and Vice-Chairs. The current Chairperson will also update the Commission on discussions held during the thirty-fifth Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which took place on June 26.
The Commission operates under specific rules of procedure, including rule 13, which outlines the term of office for its officers. The elected officials will play a crucial role in guiding the Commission’s work over the next two years.
Background and Function of the Commission
Established under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Commission provides recommendations to coastal states regarding the outer limits of their continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from their baselines. These recommendations are based on scientific data submitted by the states and do not affect boundary delimitation between adjacent states or ongoing maritime disputes.
The Commission consists of 21 experts in geology, geophysics, or hydrography, elected for five-year terms to ensure equitable geographical representation. Currently, one seat remains vacant due to a lack of nominations from the Group of Eastern European States. The Commission’s meetings are generally held in private, although summaries of submissions and recommendations are made publicly available through the Secretary-General.
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