Rescuers could attach floating buoys to a humpback whale calf trapped in a fishing net off the NSW South Coast to prevent it from diving before they attempt to cut it free.
Specialist whale entanglement crews are on the way to assess the humpback whale calf that was seen tangled in nylon rope and floats off Narooma on Tuesday.
National Parks and Wildlife Service team leader Lawrence Orel has overseen similar rescue efforts elsewhere.
"We want to assure people that we are keen to assist the animal, but that the safety of everyone is paramount," he said.
"It can't happen until [the calf and its mother] are calm enough and that usually happens when they are exhausted and tired out."
In similar rescues, authorities attached floating buoys to slow the animals down and prevent them from diving, he said.
Once the mother was calm enough, crews in rubber boats could approach and use cutting hooks to free the calf.
"We are going to need to pay attention to the mother as they are usually very protective," he said.
The whales were first seen by a helicopter pilot about 150 metres offshore from Depot Beach, 20 kilometres north of Batemans Bay, on Monday afternoon.
They were then sighted off Kianga, north of Narooma on Tuesday morning.
The large NPWS vessel Shearwater, based in Narooma, has since located the whales.
It is assessing the situation while awaiting the specialist crews to arrive from Ulladulla and Merimbula with their rubber duck craft.
