The Anthropocene, autopoiesis and the disingenuousness of the genuine link: Addressing enforcement gaps in the legal regime for areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Abstract

The Netherlands has a long and proud tradition of scholarship in the law of the sea that traces its roots back to Hugo de Groot. This tradition is exemplified by the work carried out over the last two decades by the Netherlands Institute for the Law of the Sea and the name of the institute is now synonymous with excellence in its field of research and learning. Against this background, I am privileged to participate at this year's J.H.W. Verzijl Memorial Symposium and delighted to comment upon Professor Rosemary Rayfuse's concise and thought-provoking paper which has an extraordinary title that draws inspiration from two scientific terms.