The award-winning company has plans to sublease a fin fish licence from another seafood company near Triabunna, which would create 20 jobs for the region.

Tassal has been conducting environmental monitoring at Okehampton Bay, which is about 10 kilometres from Maria Island, since 2014 and said it has proved to be an ideal location to grow Atlantic salmon.

While still two years away, the farm would house 800,000 fish in about 20 pens.

Tassal head of sustainability Linda Sams said the farm was still in the planning process, but the lease already had approval for fin fish aquaculture.

‘‘We’re engaging with the community and local stakeholders just to make sure people are aware of what’s going on,’’ Ms Sams said.

‘‘We’ve started early because we know concerns have been raised before in this issue.’’

Ms Sams said Spring Bay Seafoods, the company Tassal has subleased the licence from, would continue to grow mussels alongside the farm.

Scallop Fishermen’s Association of Tasmania president John Hammond said the proposed site in Okehampton Bay was the ‘‘worst possible place’’ for a salmon farm.

Mr Hammond said the site had shallow water and minimal tidal movement, which combined with a salmon farm would be an ‘‘environmental disaster’’.

He said before any permanent operations were in place a pilot project should be undertaken.

Greens environment spokeswoman Rosalie Woodruff said salmon farming was a serious threat to the future of the seafood industry and the ‘‘fragile marine environment’’ on the East Coast.

‘‘This will be used as a stepping stone for further expansion along the East Coast,’’ Dr Woodruff said.

‘‘It’ll be no surprise to see applications for extensions and additional leases along the coastline in the near future.

‘‘It’s unsustainable to farm fin-fish at this density in the warm waters of the lease they have taken over.’’ 

However, Primary Industries and Water Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the Greens were only interested in undermining yet another pillar of the state’s primary industry economy.

‘‘Tasmania has a reputation for producing world-class salmon that is highly regarded for its quality and sustainability,’’ he said.

‘‘Our industry is one of the most strongly regulated in the world and Tassal has shown leadership in environmental sustainability. 

‘‘If Ms Woodruff had bothered to do her homework she would know that the Marine Farming Development Plan for the Great Oyster Bay and Mercury Passage was approved after public consultation in 1998. 

‘‘A marine farming licence was issued to the leaseholder to grow Atlantic salmon in 2000.’’