Oil has started washing up along a 50-kilometre stretch of World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, off the south-east Queensland coast.

Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) said the oil patties ranged in size from those of a 10 cent piece to a $5 note.

Authorities have begun searching for the ship responsible and are compiling a list of vessels known to be in the area.

MSQ's Patrick Quirk said the oil was washing up on the beach between Dilli Village on the island's south to north of the Maheno shipwreck.

The oil patties ranged in size from those of a 10 cent piece to a $5 note. ( ABC News: Kerrin Binnie )

"Obviously it's come from a ship and it's obviously come from offshore," he said.

"The east coast current that comes down from the Coral sea, the first land they hit is Fraser Island so this oil could have come from way on the other side of the Coral Sea towards New Caledonia.

"Queensland Parks and Wildlife Rangers are on standby to be involved in clean up as required."

"Luckily to date we've had no impacted wildlife although any oil in the water is bad for the environment."

"Experience has shown the best way to clean up the beach is to remove the patties by rake and shovel."

Officers are flying over the Fraser Island area and nearby Rainbow Beach and Double Island Point to see how widespread the spill is.

Turtles could be impacted: WWF

The oil washed up on the beach between Dilli Village on the island's south to north of the Maheno shipwreck. ( ABC News: Kerrin Binnie )

Richard Leck from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said it was a critical time for turtles in the region.

"Female turtles are starting to come in to lay their eggs, especially around Bundaberg. We'll soon be having turtle hatchlings in the water," he said.

"The impact of having potentially heavy oil in the water could be significant."

He said the culprit should be punished.

"The Queensland Government has done a good job tracking down rogue vessels in the past and we need to see that happen again," Mr Leck said.

Mr Quirk said the spill was smaller than one last year at Cape Upstart in north Queensland, when 15 tonnes of oil was spilled.

MSQ said the maximum fine associated with oil spills in Queensland is $11.78 million, and $17 million from the Federal Government.