More funding has been committed to ensure the survival of Pacific salmon.
Close to $4 million has been promised to the Pacific Salmon Commission's northern and southern fund committees, which include representatives from the United States and Canada.
Preliminary applications are being accepted for projects involving data collection and stock assessments, as well as rehabilitation and restoration of freshwater habitats.
The work is slated for next year.
This summer's Fraser River sockeye returns are expected to be less than five million, but could be more than 15 million.
Those numbers determine whether any commercial fisheries will be allowed.
Since the fishery collapsed four years ago, returns have fluctuated.
A record 34 million were counted in 2010.