THREE canisters believed to contain poison gas have been found along the Far North coastline this weekend, adding to several others that have washed up around Queensland in the past year.

White Rock man Brad Sellings found the first of three canisters while walking with a friend along Noah Beach, just south of Cape Tribulation, on Saturday morning.

With no phone reception, Mr Sellings placed the canister in a plastic bucket further back on the shoreline to prevent it from being washed back out to sea.

He then went to a nearby backpackers' hostel and immediately alerted authorities.

"No one knows about them in that remote area," he said.

"As a kid, you would open it, that would be your reaction: 'I wonder what's in here, I wonder if it's a message?' "

A second canister was also found on the same beach yesterday, while a third was found at Newell Beach, near Port Douglas, later that afternoon.

All three were collected by the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service and disposed of.

The discovery of the three canisters follows several others which have appeared along the coastline at Cairns, Innisfail, Mission Beach, and most recently at Tweed Heads and Ayr's Wunjunga Beach on Friday.

Police believe the 30cm canisters contain a toxic gas known as aluminium phosphide.

The gas can be fatal if inhaled or ingested.

Residents who find the canisters are urged not to touch them and immediately call 000.

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