Rescuers have saved a distressed humpback whale caught in shark netting off the Gold Coast.

The whale was spotted entangled and towing a large net off Kirra Beach early on Thursday morning.

Sea World staff raced out to help, with teams using hooked sticks to detach the net from one of the world’s largest mammals.

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today

The exhausted whale was finally freed from the netting about 9.30am — but rescuers fear it is only the beginning of what will be an ongoing issue during this annual whale migration.

“The local whale watch season only started last week so it is very, very early and it’s already begun for us,” Sea World skipper Andy Mulville said of the rescue.

“We had another rescue off the coast last week, we are expecting a lot more of this.

“Unfortunately, we think there’s going to be a lot more calls.”

Queensland and NSW are the only Australian states which use shark nets, however, in NSW they are removed over winter as humpback whales migrate to and from warmer waters between May and September.

Queensland beaches remain netted all year.

“It is estimated that more than 40,000 humpback whales migrate along the Queensland coastline each year and, on average, fewer than six become entangled in nets or drumlines,” Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries said.

Animal rights groups such as RSPCA are urging the Queensland government to remove shark nets and adopt alternative, non-lethal methods for preventing attacks such as tagging and tracking systems, active and passive repellents, patrols and surveillance using drones.

“In NSW, the nets are removed from the water during the winter months to allow migrating humpback whales to safely travel through the water without them or their calves becoming entangled in the nets,” RSPCA said.

“In Queensland, the nets remain in the water all year round, resulting in whale entanglements during migration season.”