The whales' global classification changed from ``near threatened'' to ``least of concern'' in a new conservation report.

One of Australia's foremost marine researchers, Professor Peter Harrison, said southern right whales seemed to be recovering well after being hunted almost to extinction last century.

``Globally the southern right whale is reasonably comfortable but the Australian southern right whale population is still relatively small,'' he said.

Working at Southern Cross University in NSW, Professor Harrison compiled a report based on data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The organisation is responsible for classifying the world endangerment status of whales and other animals.

While it rated southern right whales - which regularly visit Warrnambool - as ``least of concern'', its Victorian status is still ``critically endangered''.

No southern right calves were seen off the local coastline in 2007 and only a handful have been seen this year. Department of Sustainability and Environment natural resource management officer Jodie Honan said it would ``take a while'' for the species to recover.

``In Victoria they were extremely hunted and their numbers dropped off significantly so it will take them a lot longer to recover,'' she said.

In the past 21 years, 13 female southern right whales and their calves have used Warrnambool's Logans Beach as a nursery.

It is the only regular breeding ground in the state.

``Those numbers are quite small,'' Mrs Honan said.