Two jet skiers have been caught on video south-east of Hobart ploughing through a large pod of dolphins and chasing them.

Witnesses to the incident in Fredrick Henry Bay at Lauderdale at the weekend say two jet skiers carrying passengers managed to separate the pod of about 30 dolphins.

One of the witnesses says it went on for about half an hour and the dolphins, many of them calves, were visibly distressed.

She says onlookers were outraged and captured the incident on video.

"I felt immensely angry. I don't think I've ever yelled before in quite a way and the anguish I felt was quite alarming."

"I've never had my heart race so fast for these poor things."

One of the jet skiers has defended his actions.

Skier Todd Tatnell denies that the dolphins were distressed.

"It's just been blown right out of proportion over nothing really."

"We were only just playing with the dolphins as you do when you go out on the boat and jet skis and they'll come and play with you all the time.

"We're not going out of our way to harass them or anything like that, so I don't see the problem with it," he said.

Marine and Safety Tasmania agrees the incident may have been blown out of proportion.

Spokesman Peter Hopkins says there are two sides to the story.

"Having seen the video, it appears the jet skis may have approached the dolphins probably a little bit too quickly from behind."

"But having spoken to those involved they do acknowledge that, but they've also said they didn't think they were harassing the dolphins as such.

"They've also said they didn't think they were harassing the dolphins as such. I know dolphins will actually come to you," he said.

Guidelines set out by Tasmania's Department of Primary Industries, Water and the Environment recommend a distance of 100 metres between boats and whales.

MAST says it is not investigating the issue further.

Marine Police will interview the skiers.

Inspector Stuart Scott says the claims are being treated seriously.

"There are specific offences in the Whale Protection Act relating to interfering with whales and dolphins fall under the definition of whales and also Marine and Safety Offences as well."

"The penalties relating to the Whale Protection Act are extremely substantial and could amount to 100 penalty units."