Guyana will by the end of August this year make its full submission to the United Nations on its entitlement to extend its continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, pursuant to Article 76 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

A release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday stated that on May 12 government, through the permanent mission of Guyana to the UN,  provided information to the body’s Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (UNCLCS).

Article 76 stipulates that once they have met strictly specified technical and scientific criteria, coastal states may with the recommendation of the UNCLCS exercise jurisdiction over a maximum of 150 nautical miles beyond the 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

According to the foreign affairs ministry statement, Guyana’s full submission is in an advanced stage and will be submitted before the end of August.

It added that the provision of the information to the UN was made without prejudice to future maritime delimitation with neighbouring states.

The information provided by Guyana could be found at the website of the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf: www.un.org/Depts/los/clcs_new/commission_preliminary.htm.