Tasmanian salmon producer, Tassal is working with the State Government to find new locations for the company's controversial seal relocation program after dumping a record number of seals last year on the state's north west coast.

More than 2,100 seals were caught near Tasmania's southern salmon farms last financial year and taken by road 400 kilometres away for release in the north west — a significant increase on the 161 the previous year.

North-western fishing operators said relocated seals were becoming more aggressive, harassing fishing vessels, destroying nets, attacking birds, killing penguins and stealing catches.

Late last week the ABC saw first-hand hundreds of seal on and around Bull Rock near Stanley and witnessed the hungry animals tenaciously steal catches and shadow fishing vessels.

Seals are relocated from Tasmania's south to the north west to protect the salmon industry. ( ABC News: Henry Zwartz )

Tassal's Senior Manager of Corporate Engagement Barbara McGregor told ABC Radio Hobart that Tassal "empathised" with the frustrations of the fishing industry.

"I certainly empathise with their frustrations. There certainly has been a spike this year and what I do want to say is we're imposing a reduction on ourselves," she said.

Ms McGregor said Tassal was working with the environment department to find new locations for relocating seals.

"We're exploring other relocation sites to expand that … the other thing that we're doing is investing $70 million over the next four years to make sure all our pens are seal proof," she said.

Liberal member for Braddon Adam Brooks said the timing wasn't fast enough for businesses affected by seal relocations.

"Ultimately I think they could speed it up a lot more and I'd like to see a quicker action plan then what they have outlined … I think there's more that needs to be done," he said,

Mr Brooks called for a halt on the relocation program.

Fishing operators dubious of Tassal's commitment

North west fisherman Bob Gillam was scathing of Tassal's comments.

"I'm afraid Tassal's word isn't worth a bar of soap. I've heard promises of fixing this all before," Mr Gillam said.

"New relocation areas is only moving the problem to other communities."

Ms McGregor said the company was moving as fast as possible in rolling-out seal-proof salmon pens.

"Now the important thing is zero relocation, it's the target that we all share, absolutely, and we are rolling-out the seal-proof cages as quickly as they can be manufactured," she said.

Ms McGregor said Tassal was spending about $1 million per year on its relocation program.

Fishing operators told the ABC they believed it was only a matter of time before someone would be seriously injured by an overly aggressive seal.

Tassal is understood to be the only salmon producer still relocating seals.

Mr Gillam said it had taken too long for Tassal to look at ending seal relocations.

"We have been raising concerns for so many years, and it seems as soon as there is some media attention we get these promises," he said.

"We can only hope that what they say will be true, but promises have been made and broken before."

Tassal has reported bumper profits this year of just over $100 million.