Race underway to rescue humpback whale entangled in nets in Sydney Harbour

A rescue operation is underway to free a young humpback whale after the animal became entangled in a fishing net.

A whale watching cruise first spotted the animal off The Heads, near Sydney Harbour, at around 1.20pm on Thursday.

Wildlife rescue group OORCA was called in to assist the whale as it swam into the harbour near Shark Island before being fitted with a GPS tracker.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services sent three vessels to free the poor animal from the 50-metre-long fish trap that was wrapped around its tail.

The rescue operation was called off at sunset but resumed at first light on Friday using the GPS tracker to locate the whale.

More coming soon.