5 The Challenges of Commission on Limits
of the Continental Shelf
The main challenge of the CLCS is the unexpected workload of submissions that still
have to be considered. Clearly, that was an unforeseen prediction during the course
of the III Conference. The scientific knowledge regarding marine science, by the
1970s, is completely different from what it is today. With that knowledge, the
expected volume of submissions to be considered by the CLCS would be less than
40. Beside the unforeseen amount of submission, those were also anticipated as less
elaborated and complex from those that were in fact submitted, especially due to the
technological innovation in the marine industry.
As of today, 82 submissions were received by the CLCS. If we add 7 revised
submissions, then the total number becomes 89 (see Figs. 11.1, 11.2 and 11.3). If we
add all submissions from those States that submitted Preliminary Information,
further partial submissions for additional areas, further revised submissions, new
submissions by States whose ten-year time limit for making a submission has not
expired and new submissions by States not yet parties, then this process might take
much longer then it was initially assumed. In practical terms, the limits from national
jurisdiction and the international jurisdiction (Common Heritage of Mankind) will
be postpone to un unknown future.
The CLCS was established in 1997 and since then meets regularly in the United
Nations headquarters, in New York. The amount of time expended to consider the
Submissions has been increasing since then as a response to the existent backlog of
Submissions piled today. Since July 2012 (fourth term), the CLCS meets in NYC for
1
1
1
3
4
7
9
16
51 54
59
66
72
79 81 82 84
88 89
0
1
1
1
1
1
3
5
9 11 14
18 18 21 22
26 29 30 32
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015
2017
2019
Submissions and RecommendaƟons
Total submissions received, incl. revised submissions
Total recommendaƟons issued, incl. on revised submissions
Fig. 11.1 Total number of received submissions by coastal States (Orange circles with cumulative
values). Total number of recommendations issued by the Commission on the Limits of the
Continental Shelf. Status as of end 2019 (Data provided from the DOALOS website — https://
www.un.org/Depts/los/clcs_new/commission_submissions.htm)
198
A. S. de Campos
of the Continental Shelf
The main challenge of the CLCS is the unexpected workload of submissions that still
have to be considered. Clearly, that was an unforeseen prediction during the course
of the III Conference. The scientific knowledge regarding marine science, by the
1970s, is completely different from what it is today. With that knowledge, the
expected volume of submissions to be considered by the CLCS would be less than
40. Beside the unforeseen amount of submission, those were also anticipated as less
elaborated and complex from those that were in fact submitted, especially due to the
technological innovation in the marine industry.
As of today, 82 submissions were received by the CLCS. If we add 7 revised
submissions, then the total number becomes 89 (see Figs. 11.1, 11.2 and 11.3). If we
add all submissions from those States that submitted Preliminary Information,
further partial submissions for additional areas, further revised submissions, new
submissions by States whose ten-year time limit for making a submission has not
expired and new submissions by States not yet parties, then this process might take
much longer then it was initially assumed. In practical terms, the limits from national
jurisdiction and the international jurisdiction (Common Heritage of Mankind) will
be postpone to un unknown future.
The CLCS was established in 1997 and since then meets regularly in the United
Nations headquarters, in New York. The amount of time expended to consider the
Submissions has been increasing since then as a response to the existent backlog of
Submissions piled today. Since July 2012 (fourth term), the CLCS meets in NYC for
1
1
1
3
4
7
9
16
51 54
59
66
72
79 81 82 84
88 89
0
1
1
1
1
1
3
5
9 11 14
18 18 21 22
26 29 30 32
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015
2017
2019
Submissions and RecommendaƟons
Total submissions received, incl. revised submissions
Total recommendaƟons issued, incl. on revised submissions
Fig. 11.1 Total number of received submissions by coastal States (Orange circles with cumulative
values). Total number of recommendations issued by the Commission on the Limits of the
Continental Shelf. Status as of end 2019 (Data provided from the DOALOS website — https://
www.un.org/Depts/los/clcs_new/commission_submissions.htm)
198
A. S. de Campos