Young whale freed from shark nets off North Stradbroke Island
Rescuers have freed a young whale from shark nets off North Stradbroke Island as two adult whales waited close by.
Authorities received initial reports of the incident about 7.30am on Sunday and dispatched a specialist marine animal rescue team shortly after.
In a statement, a Fisheries Queensland spokesperson said the four-metre juvenile whale had become tangled in a "shark control drum line".
"Queensland Parks and Wildlife are on site," Fisheries said.
"More information will be available once the MART crew who are trained and experienced in releasing entangled animals, is on site and has assessed the situation.
"People are asked to maintain a safe distance from the animal to minimise further distress and the response operation at all times."
The rescue, which the department said came as two adult whales swam "nearby", was the latest in several incidents this year involving whales trapped in shark nets off the south-east Queensland coast.
A whale and calf were freed off the Gold Coast in late June and a man — known only as "Django" — narrowly escaped a fine for taking matters into his own hands just one month prior.
Marine scientists and conservationists have long called for a removal of the nets, in place at Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast beaches, during the migration period, which spans from late-Autumn to Spring.
The government has stressed the protection of human life comes first, saying it works closely with scientific groups on shark control issues.