A/RES/72/73 Oceans and the law of the sea VII The continental shelf and the work of the Commission 82. Recalls that, in accordance with article 76, paragraph 8, of the Convention, information on the limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured shall be submitted by the coastal State to the Commission set up under annex II to the Convention on the basis of equitable geographical representation, that the Commission shall make recommendations to coastal States on matters related to the establishment of the outer limits of their continental shelf, and that the limits of the shelf established by a coastal State on the basis of these recommendations shall be final and binding; 83. Also recalls that, in accordance with article 77, paragraph 3, of the Convention, the rights of the coastal State over the continental shelf do not depend on occupation, effective or notional, or on any express proclamation; 84. Notes with satisfaction that a considerable number of States Parties to the Convention have submitted information to the Commission regarding the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, in conformity with article 76 of the Convention and article 4 of annex II to the Convention, taking into account the decision of the eleventh Meeting of States Parties to the Convention contained in SPLOS/72, paragraph (a); 85. Also notes with satisfaction that a considerable number of States Parties to the Convention have submitted to the Secretary-General, pursuant to the decision of the eighteenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, 42 preliminary information indicative of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles and a description of the status of preparation and intended date of submission in accordance with the requirements of article 76 of the Convention and with the Rules of Procedure and the Scientific and Technical Guidelines of the Commission, and notes with satisfaction that additional submissions referred to in preliminary information have been filed with the Commission; 86. Further notes with satisfaction the progress in the work of the Commission 43 and that it is giving current consideration to a number of submiss ions that have been made regarding the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles; 87. Takes note of the 29 recommendations made by the Commission on the submissions of a number of coastal States, and welcomes the fact that summaries of recommendations are being made publicly available in accordance with paragraph 11.3 of annex III to the Rules of Procedure of the Commission; 88. Notes that the consideration by the Commission of submissions by coastal States in accordance with article 76 of and annex II to the Convention is without prejudice to the application of other parts of the Convention by States Parties; 89. Also notes the considerable number of submissions yet to be considered by the Commission and the demands that this places on its members and the secretariat as provided by the Division, and emphasizes the need to ensure that the Commission can perform its functions expeditiously, efficiently and effectively and maintain its high level of quality and expertise; 90. Takes note with appreciation of the decision of the Commission at its forty-fourth session to continue to extend the duration of its sessions for 2018 to three __________________ 42 43 18/55 See SPLOS/183. See CLCS/98, CLCS/100 and CLCS/101. 17-21819