National Parks and Wildlife Service operations coordinator, Ian Kerr said crews working with Marine Parks Authority staff managed to cut 150 metres of nylon rope and floats from the young calf off Cuttagee, near Narooma, just on dusk.

"Although there is one small piece of rope remaining the chances of the calf surviving has now improved greatly," Mr Kerr said.

"If the material had not been removed the chances of this whale surviving would not have been good."

Mr Kerr said freeing the whale involved using two inflatable rescue boats with crews using hook-shaped knives on long poles which minimises risk to rescuers.

"While the conditions were good, agitated whales always makes for a dangerous operation and the team have to ensure safety is paramount," he said.

"The successful operation would not have been possible without the support of those involved including ORRCA volunteers and staff from the Marine Parks Authority as well as the dedicated whale disentanglement teams.

Mr Kerr said it was "very satisfying to see the calf reunited with its mother".

The pair continued to head south on Tuesday evening.

Sadly encounters like this are all too common, Mr Kerr said.

"Increasing whale numbers and human use of the oceans mean there is a greater chance whales can be entangled in fishing gear, nets or ropes during their migration up and down the coast," Mr Kerr said.

The entangled calf was first spotted by a helicopter pilot off Depot Beach, near Batemans Bay, Monday afternoon but high winds and the mother's naturally protective behaviour prevented the rescue crews from approaching the calf until Tuesday.

National Parks and Wildlife spokeswoman Sarah Scroope said it was getting too dangerous to get the remaining bit of rope removed from the calf.

"The calf and the mother were still happy but the calf was beginning to show signs of becoming distressed," she said.

"The rest of the rope is through its mouth and wrapped around its head. In this case, that was the hardest bit to free."

with The Narooma News