Whale researchers are concerned recreational boaties on Queensland's Gold Coast are crowding humpback mothers and their newborn calves, breaching state regulations for watching marine mammals.

Griffith University researcher, Olaf Meynecke, counted eight boats surrounding a mother as she lifted her newborn calf out of the water on Sunday, despite rules stipulating no more than three boats could be present at a time.

"Unfortunately with the [large] number of boats comes a lot of stress for the animal [as] they are aware of where the boats are," Dr Meynecke said.

"It was a newborn calf, less than a week old — probably only two or three days old."

Dr Meynecke filmed the tender moment with a drone.

"It was unique to witness something like this and also to see the bonding between the mother and the calf," he said.

A humpback mother and her calf were surrounded by eight boats off the Gold Coast on Sunday, despite regulations stipulating only three boats could watch at a time. ( Supplied: Olaf Meynecke )

Busy on the water

Anthony Ardern is the owner of Whales in Paradise, which runs whale watching tours off the Gold Coast, and said boaters' disregard for whale watching regulations was worsening.

"We are seeing a lot of weekend warriors going out [whale watching]," Mr Ardern said.

"Obviously when you've got beautiful weather and school holidays, every man and his dog is out there.

"It is quite frustrating — more so for the whales' safety — and it's our livelihood out there as well."

A spokesperson from the Queensland Department of Environment and Science (DES) said no-one had been fined for encroaching on whales in Queensland this year, but the Department was investigating incidents involving a number of jetski riders on the Gold Coast.

"DES received two complaints in relation to this matter on June 11 and 12, 2018."

"As it is currently under investigation, DES cannot provide any further information in relation to the incident at this time," a statement issued to the ABC said.

Those caught encroaching on whales face a $652.75 on-the-spot fine.

A 'caution' zone extends 300m from a whale where no more than three boats can watch a whale at a given time. ( Supplied: Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection )

More whales giving birth off Gold Coast

Whale experts are predicting 30,000 humpbacks will migrate along Australia's east coast this season.

Traditional calving grounds are further north in the isolated waters of the southern Great Barrier Reef, but Dr Meynecke said he was seeing more females calving off the Gold Coast and had even heard of some mothers giving birth off Victoria.

He said one theory for this change in behaviour was that due to the large number of pregnant whales, mothers were choosing other areas to give birth where there were less whales.

"We have more whales so the chances of them avoiding more crowded [birthing] areas and giving birth elsewhere are a lot higher than they used to be," Dr Meynecke said.

"Another theory is that there is actually less food supply in the Antarctic waters and that the animals are trying to reduce the migration which would greatly help them to save energy."

Calls for tighter whale protections

Mr Ardern said the Gold Coast offered the migrating mammals a protected bay, but the area was also a playground for recreational boaties.

"The highest number of recreational boats [are] registered in Queensland on the Gold Coast and south-east Queensland," he said.

"Obviously with great weather like this everyone is heading out in droves."

Dr Meynecke said he understood boaties wanted to watch the whales, but he was worried about the pressure it was putting on the mammals and the risk associated with boats encroaching on humpbacks.

He said a 15 knot (28 kilometres per hour) speed limit should be placed on boats entering and exiting the Southport Seaway to reduce the risk of accidents.