Order calls upon government to look at ocean uses holistically, instead of piece-by-piece.
ARLINGTON, VA — The Nature Conservancy congratulates President Obama for his bold executive order Monday that sets forth a new and more effective way of managing our oceans for people and nature.

The order creates a national policy for ocean stewardship and directs the federal government to make regional plans for ocean and coastal resources and the Great Lakes. It also directs federal agencies with a stake in ocean resources to come up with a comprehensive approach to implement the plans, making for more efficient government.

“The Gulf oil spill makes us all acutely aware of the importance and the vulnerability of our marine and coastal resources,” said Mark Tercek, The Nature Conservancy President and CEO. “For almost a decade we have been actively engaged in getting to this historic point, and today the nation is one big step closer to managing our ocean’s resources in a...