MIGALOO the white whale is making his way north, but could the Whitsundays own "Chalkie" be close behind?

First spotted off Cid Harbour as a calf in September 2011, it was a competition run by Tourism Whitsundays and Whitsunday Escape that saw the baby 'albino' humpback bestowed with the name Chalkie.

Strathdickie resident Barry Brant earned the honour of naming the Whitsundays' white whale, referencing Chalkie's colour, the region's white sands and Stockyards Beach on Haslewood Island, commonly known as Chalkies Beach.

Other suggestions included Michael Jackson, Casper and OMO (washing powder).

While Mr Brant will go down in history as the author of Chalkie's name, it was Whitsunday man Wayne Fewings who first spotted the rare whale in Cid Harbour near Whitsunday Island.

Although there have been no confirmed Chalkie sightings so far this year, the Long family were lucky enough to witness the wonder of the white whale in September 2015.

The family were swimming off South Molle Island when Chalkie surfaced nearby, singing his iconic whale song.

"It was the most beautiful sound, like he was serenading us," Lisbeth Long said at the time.

Reports from last year also put Chalkie in the area around Cid Island and Langford Reef.

While no-one can be certain if Chalkie will pop up this year, his famous relative Migaloo appears on track to spend some time in the Whitsundays.

Currently making his way up Queensland's east coast under the watchful eye of a Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service vessel, whale watchers are being warned to keep their distance.

Federal regulations provide special protection for white whales, with vessels required to keep a 500m exclusion zone around the animal.

For all other whales and dolphins vessels cannot come within 100m, or 300m if there are already three or more vessels within 300m.

Those who intentionally breach these exclusion zones can be hit with a fine of up to $20,113.50, or a $609 on-the-spot fine.

But just what makes a whale white?

In a paper published in 2011, Australian Arctic Division scientists explained Migaloo suffers from albinism.

The most important pigment in a humpback whale's skin is melanin.

Migaloo was found to have a non-functional melanin-producing gene, resulting in his startling white colouring.

Anyone concerned about boats getting too close to whales is encouraged to contact the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection on 1300 130 372.

Anyone who sights a white whale is asked to contact editor@whitsundaytimes.com.au.

Chalkie has a signature black spot on his tail.