Rescuers have managed to free a whale that became entangled in a shark net off the Gold Coast.

Key points: The humpback whale was spotted around 8am with the net caught around the mammal's tail

The humpback whale was spotted around 8am with the net caught around the mammal's tail Choppy conditions hampered the rescue but the whale was successfully freed around 11:30am

Choppy conditions hampered the rescue but the whale was successfully freed around 11:30am Conservation groups have now reiterated calls for shark nets to be removed from beaches across Queensland

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries said the six-to-nine metre humpback whale was spotted caught in the net off Main Beach around 8:00am on Thursday.

The net was caught around the mammal's tail, with choppy conditions hampering the rescue.

Queensland shark control program manager Jeff Krause said two Gold Coast-based Marine Animal Release Team (MART) crews, with help from Sea World staff, managed to free the trapped whale just after 11:30am.

"The whale was breathing and in a calm state while it was being released and swam away strongly," Mr Krause said.

"Today's successful release is another demonstration of the expertise of our MART crews, located at Mackay, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast, who are very skilled in safe release techniques for these animals.

"Successfully releasing whales is dangerous work at the best of times and today's release was complicated by the choppy sea conditions on the Gold Coast."

The whale thrashing its tail very close to the rescue boat. ( ABC News )

A department spokesman said any injury from the net was likely to be superficial and the whale was expected to make a full recovery.

He said it was the first disentanglement of the season on the Gold Coast and the second across the state.

The Humane Society International (HSI) and Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) have reiterated calls for shark nets to be removed from beaches across Queensland.

"The fact another whale has been ensnared is horrifying but not surprising," said HSI marine campaigner Lawrence Chlebeck.

"Every year this happens, and every year we ask the Queensland Government to take out the nets.

"Every year these calls fall on deaf ears. There are better, non-lethal ways to protect both people and marine wildlife."

Free at last, the whale is now expected to make a full recovery. ( ABC News )

AMCS senior shark campaigner Leonardo Guida said the New South Wales Government removed the nets at the start of the whale migration season.

"We know what time of year the whales arrive — it's like clockwork, yet, the Queensland Government keeps the nets in and puts whales and their rescuers at risk," he said.

"Rescuing stressed whales from shark nets is incredibly dangerous because of their size and power. The Queensland Government must reconsider the use of shark nets during whale migration."

A department spokesman said the Government understood many people had strong views about shark control and added that it had committed $1 million a year to trial alternatives to nets.

Mr Krause said more than 33,000 whales travel along the Queensland coast each year.

During last year's migration season, six whales were rescued after becoming stranded in shark nets.