Hope for beached NSW shark's survival

Experts have high hopes a shark that was released after being washed ashore at a popular Sydney beach will survive.

The juvenile great white, nicknamed "Fluffy", was released from a boat four kilometres off Sydney on Tuesday afternoon after it was monitored overnight at Manly Sea Life Sanctuary aquarium.

It was found thrashing on Manly beach on Monday and was initially relocated to an ocean pool while experts came up with a rescue plan.

The sanctuary's life sciences manager Rob Townsend said aquarists had "high hopes" Fluffy wouldn't get into further trouble.

"White sharks are generally found in off-shore environments and are strong swimmers so it is really unusual for one to wash up like this," he said.