Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 of the United States of America establishes a comprehensive national fish, shellfish, and wildlife resources policy with emphasis on the commercial fishing industry but also with a direction to administer the Act with regard to the inherent right of every citizen and resident to fish for pleasure, enjoyment, and betterment and to maintain and increase public opportunities for recreational use of fish and wildlife resources. Among other things, it directs a program of continuing research, extension, and information services on fish and wildlife matters, both domestically and internationally.

It confirmed the position of Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife and a United States Fish and Wildlife Service

United States Fish and Wildlife Service

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...

 in the Department of the Interior, and established a Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife and a Bureau of Commercial Fisheries.

Reorganization Plan No. IV, October 3, 1970 (84 Stat. 2090), abolished the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries and transferred functions related to commercial fisheries and marine sport fisheries, except Great Lakes fishery research and certain other fishery related activities, to the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...

.

Public Law 105-242 (112 Stat. 1575), approved October 5, 1998, amended the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to promote volunteer programs and community partnerships for the benefit of national wildlife refuge

National Wildlife Refuge

National Wildlife Refuge is a designation for certain protected areas of the United States managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge System is the world's premiere system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife and plants...

s. This new law enables the Service to implement pilot projects using up to 20 volunteer coordinators who will recruit, train and supervise volunteers in each FWS region; authorizes establishment of a Senior Volunteer Corps focusing on people over the age of 50 and provides authority for project leaders to organize and collaborate with partner organizations and allows that gifts or bequests made to a particular refuge may be spent by that refuge. The new law also requires the Secretary of the Interior

United States Secretary of the Interior

The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...

 to develop refuge education programs to provide outdoor classroom opportunities for students to promote understanding of the National Wildlife Refuge System and to improve scientific literacy

Scientific literacy

Scientific literacy encompasses written, numerical, and digital literacy as they pertain to understanding science, its methodology, observations, and theories.-Definition:...

in conjunction with both formal and informal education programs.