There have been calls for greater protection of whales in the waters off Brisbane after a whale was struck and killed by a ferry travelling to North Stradbroke Island.
The female southern right whale was struck in the head near Moreton Bay, this week.
Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation CEO Cameron Costello said Aboriginal rangers were quickly on the scene.
"The whale was relocated to a nearby island where it will be dealt with appropriately, not only for scientific research purposes but also culturally, where our elders will undertake some ceremony in terms of how the whale is returned back to the environment," he said.
Another whale suffered horrific propeller injuries but has since disappeared. A calf was believed to have been travelling with the pair days earlier.
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No vessel is permitted within 100 metres of a whale, but with whale numbers increasing and more boating enthusiasts hitting the bay, the risk of similar incidents is high.
Mr Costello has called on all levels of government to act.
"We don't want to repeat this incident moving into the future and I think all parties will be keen to assess what happened, develop a report around that and look at what we need to put in place to ensure that with a growing population, with a growing user base within Moreton Bay, that we don't destroy these amazing creatures," he said.
A spokesman for Queensland Environment Minister, Andrew Powell, said the government would continue to monitor the situation "but had no intention of declaring whales 'special interest' at this stage.
The CLP government recently reviewed whale-watching regulations to have them bought in line with the national standards.
