Attempts to rescue a whale entangled with numerous buoys have been abandoned due to heavy seas.
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The humpback, measuring approximately eight metres, was last sighted on Saturday afternoon, June 22 at Seal Rocks.
The whale was spotted at 5pm with three white buoys around its body, while another two were trailing behind the animal.
A search on Sunday failed to locate the whale.
However, ORRCA (Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia) received an unconfirmed report the whale was spotted on Sunday afternoon near Hawks Nest travelling south.
ORRCA has issued a request for members of the public to keep an eye out for the whale.
"If you think you spot one of these whales, the ORRCA rescue team will need the GPS location and any photos/video to confirm the report," was posted on the organisation's Facebook page.
"Importantly, please do not approach the whale.
"Whales are protected in our waters.
"You must stay at least 100m away at all times, 300m if they have a calf.
"If the animal is entangled a 500m exclusion zone applies.
Please call in any sightings to the ORRCA rescue hotline on 9415 3333.
Further north, a humpback whale, measuring approximately eight metres also was spotted entangled with two red/orange buoys trailing behind.
The whale was last sighted in the Richmond River at Ballina on Sunday, June 23 before it swam out of river.
It was last sighted heading north.
Due to the rough conditions of the seas, no vessel was able to follow the whale.
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Jeanene Duncan
Jeanene has more than 40 years experience as a regional and rural journalist starting at The Land Newspaper. She also worked for Stock Journal Newspaper (SA), McPherson, Fairfax newspapers and Rural Press, and contributed to various magazines.
Jeanene has more than 40 years experience as a regional and rural journalist starting at The Land Newspaper. She also worked for Stock Journal Newspaper (SA), McPherson, Fairfax newspapers and Rural Press, and contributed to various magazines.
