Mid-North Coast residents are being called on to help locate a humpback whale entangled in five white buoys, believed travelling along the Mid-North Coast.
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The Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA) said the animal could be anywhere from Newcastle to Port Macquarie in the coming days after issuing a public notice on Monday, June 24.
The warning encourages people to record a GPS location for the whale and share photos or video to assist the ORRCA rescue.
The whale was sighted at Seal Rocks around 5.30pm on Saturday, June 22.
Rescue crews checked the Seal Rocks, Sandbar and Blueys Beach area on Sunday, June 23.
ORRCA rescue manager Leigh Mansfield said members of the public can help by notifying rescue teams as soon as possible.
"The whale was last seen at Hawks Nest late last night (June 23)," said Mr Mansfield.
"It is believed to be travelling south, but it could then turn around and come north.
"Unless we help remove entanglements from whales eventually they could lead to a slow death.
"Our advice is for people who have seen a whale, dolphin or seal to keep a safe distance and notify the ORRCA hotline as soon as possible."
Whales are protected by a 100m exclusion zone, 300m with calf or 500m if entangled.
Injured seal, dolphin or whale sightings can be reported to the ORRCA Rescue Hotline on 02 9415 3333.
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