Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/70/235 71. Emphasizes the importance of the rules and staff regulations of the Tribunal in promoting the recruitment of a geographically representative staff in the Professional and higher categories, and welcomes the actions taken by the Tribunal in observance of those rules and regulations; VII The continental shelf and the work of the Commission 72. 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; 73. 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; 74. 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); 75. 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, 41 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; 76. Further notes with satisfaction the progress in the work of the Commission 42 and that it is giving current consideration to a number of submissions that have been made regarding the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles; 77. Notes with satisfaction that the Commission, taking into account the decision of the eighteenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, 41 has compiled lists of websites of organizations, data/information portals and data holders where general information and publicly available scientific and technical data can be accessed that may be relevant to the preparation of submissions, and has made this information available on its website; _______________ 41 42 See SPLOS/183. See CLCS/88, CLCS/90 and CLCS/91. 17/53