Humpback whale numbers in the North Pacific have increased to almost 20,000, the largest the population has been since commercial whaling of humpbacks was banned in 1966. The increase is documented in the final report of an international study called SPLASH (Structure of Populations, Levels of Abundance and Status of Humpbacks) which involved 400 researchers from 10 countries and was partially funded by NOAA. News of the population increase is covered in Nature and the Honolulu Star Bulletin. A news release with additional information is posted on the EurekAlert!website.