The number of whales in the world's oceans is increasing because of protection from commercial hunting, a new report has found.
In its latest list of threatened species, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature says that the humpback whale is no longer vulnerable as a result of the safeguards.
This is regarded as a conservation success, but the union has warned that other species of whale are still threatened.
There is still cause for concern because Japan and Iceland have resumed whaling, defying international opposition.
The IUCN has listed dolphins and porpoises as being pushed towards extinction worldwide because of what it describes as 'human activities'.
One of the biggest problems facing conservationists is the lack of information about cetacean species.
They have called for governments to help in compiling this information so that marine species can be protected.
