FREDERICTON -- The Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation is making more money available for organizations trying to re-establish and preserve wild Atlantic salmon habitat and stocks.

The foundation's executive director, Stephen Chase, says the organization has increased its budget for grants to $400,000, up from the $300,000 it has been offering annually since it was established in 2007.

The foundation is seeking applications for 2014 from volunteer conservation groups, Aboriginal organizations, municipalities, industrial groups, and others working on river, stream and watershed conservation.

Chase says the foundation is trying to encourage larger scale projects that demonstrate clear conservation results.

This past summer, 38 projects were funded by the foundation across the region, employing about 160 workers.

The foundation is a volunteer, non-profit, charitable organization that helps achieve healthy and sustainable wild Atlantic salmon stocks in Atlantic Canada and Quebec.