Incidents of marine wildlife, including whales, becoming entangled in shark nets along Queensland's most popular beaches have led to calls for the shark control program to be scrapped.

Shark nets have curtained beaches in the state's south east for more than 50 years, but marine experts say more than sharks are being caught in them.

Eight whales became entangled during this year's whale migration season, one of them fatally.

While a distressed humpback generated media attention, it was the dozens of smaller species, including dolphins, turtles and rays, that had conservationists worried.

Director of marine sciences at Sea World Gold Coast, Trevor Long, said the nets were first installed in 1962 and times had changed.

"My view now is that we must change this program," he said.

"It doesn't meet the need of the community given our understanding of sharks, given our understanding of the by-catch, the heavy price we pay for the by-catch."

Human safety the priority, Minister says

However, Queensland Fisheries Minister John McVeigh said the nets were working.

"Human safety is the priority and managing shark attack risk is the focus of the Government," he said.

But Mr Long said the cost in terms of marine life, and particularly sharks, was too high.

"We're losing nearly 100 million sharks a year around the world," he said.

"In 1960, there were more sharks out there, and here we are in 2014 and there are far less sharks."

The first shark control program was introduced after a number of attacks on Queensland beaches.

A trial of mesh nets and baited hooks, also known as drum lines, in the state's south-east was soon expanded.

In the last financial year, 667 sharks were caught, including almost 300 whalers, 270 tiger sharks and seven white pointer sharks.

The nets and drum lines also caught more 130 other marine animals - referred to as by-catch - including 67 rays, 18 turtles and 16 dolphins.

In August, this year a minke whale drowned in nets off Bilinga on the southern Gold Coast.

Endangered shark species also at risk

Shark control program manager Jeff Krause said four protected grey nurse sharks were also caught.

Sorry, this video has expired Conservationists want an end to Qld shark nets ( Tom Forbes )

"As we all know, the grey nurse is an endangered species and protected and we do everything we can if we do catch a grey nurse shark that we release it alive," he said.

However, Mr Krause said the latest shark catch figures were in line with previous years.

"We find that the annual catch rate does vary and that's usual to the amount of rainfall we have a along the coastline," he said.

"If we get a dry season, we tend to catch a few less sharks and if we have a good wet season, we tend to catch a few more."

Winter whale migration concerns

Conservationists want the nets pulled out during the winter whale migration, similar to the system that operates in New South Wales.

Mr Long, who is part of the Sea World rescue team that helps Fisheries Department officers to free trapped whales, said most rescues happened quickly but some took longer and were high risk.

"You've got an active whale, you've got nets and you've got a sea state - it's a very, very dangerous environment," he said.

"I think we should be trying to minimise that where we can."

Olaf Meynecke , a spokesman for Humpbacks and Highrises, a non-profit organisation looking at the impacts of urbanisation on marine mammals, said it was "frustrating" knowing that more whales would die because of the program.

"I can already say what is going to happen next year - we are going to have the same numbers again, maybe even worse," he said.

Seven of the eight whales caught in the last six months were migrating humpbacks.

Mr Meynecke said the mammals tended to get caught in the same nets.

"There are hot spots that seem to - probably because of the currents - attract the animals closer to the shore," he said.

"When they are closer to the shore they are more likely to get entangled in the nets."

Mr Meynecke said he would support pulling out the nets during the whale migration.

"I think it would be very logical to do this during the whale migration," he said.

"First of all, there is less people in the water and secondly, there is no evidence that shark nets have ever prevented any attacks."

One human death in 52 years makes nets a 'success'

However, Mr McVeigh said the nets saved lives and the Queensland Government had a responsibility to protect beach-goers.

"Queensland's tourism is year-round," Mr McVeigh said.

Surf Life Saving Queensland said it supported the program, arguing there was value in any initiative that safeguards the public.

Since the introduction of the shark control program, the number of nets have been reduced from 50 to 30.

Mr McVeigh said there was little chance the nets would disappear.

"The program is now 52 years old and very successful - it is something the Queensland Government will stick with," he said.

"There has only been one death in those 52 years... it proves the success of the program."