A whale calf has been freed after becoming caught in a shark net off Queensland's Gold Coast, authorities say.

A member of the public walking along Greenmount beach spotted the whale about 50 metres offshore at 6:00am on Tuesday.

The walker alerted the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol, who sent a whale release team.

A spokesman said an adult whale remained close to the juvenile.

The whale was freed from the nets about 8:00am.

Authorities said both animals had been caught in the net. ( Supplied: Humane Society International )

Seaworld director of marine sciences, Trevor Long, said it was a distressing rescue.

"It was a very, very young calf — heavily engaged in the net, it was almost enveloped in the net — so quite distressing for the calf and quite distressing for the mother," Mr Long said.

"It took around about three-quarters of an hour to rescue the animal

"The mother was very close to the calf and very close to us and very interested in what we were doing.

"I honestly believe the mother realised we were helping the calf and not injuring the calf and that was why she was calm."

A spokesman said an adult whale remained close to the juvenile. ( Supplied: Humane Society International )

Mr Long said both animals had been in the net.

"The mother had a tiny piece of net on her nose and there was a big hole beside where the baby was," he said.

"The calf had a lot of skin abrasions where the net had rubbed it raw — I don't think these are life-threatening — but it identified it had been in the net for some time."

Sorry, this video has expired Baby whale freed from shark net

Local surfer Jason said it was the first time he had seen a whale rescue.

"It was amazing — you don't get opportunities like that," he said.

"Unfortunately the whale was caught in the net and it was a baby but help was on the way."

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary zoologist Daniela Para was off-duty at the time and watched the rescue from the shore.

"It took for up to two hours for Sea World to release the whale," she said.

"I saw the mother jump and then the little baby jumped as well.

"It was fantastic to see healthy animals back in the wild."