THEY copped a bad rap for almost a decade but now the "hoons of the Harbour" have launched their fight to return to a waterway near you.

Eight years after the craft were banned from Sydney Harbour by former NSW premier Bob Carr, a body representing jet skiers said it now had growing support to be allowed back in the water.

It said jet skis were not as noisy or as destructive to the environment as they used to be and the 31,000 personal water craft boat licence holders deserved to be allowed back in the Harbour.

"The key argument (in) parliament in 2001 was that jet skis were noisy and bad for the environment - but technology has improved so much that jet skis are now quieter and less harmful to the environment than a small runabout," said Jet Ski Sydney Harbour director Dominic Favaloro.

"I think eight years is a big enough punishment for the minority that ruined it for the rest of us. It's time we had a fair go and to show the community what a sensible group of people we are."

Fishing and boating bodies are supporting the call for jet skis to be allowed between the Harbour Bridge and all the way up the river to Parramatta, he said.

"We've long been stereotyped but not all of us are as bad as everyone thinks," he said.

Most jet ski users are males over 30 years old who have children and want to enjoy the vessel with their families, Mr Favaloro said.

Jet skiers are now confined to waterways including the Hawkesbury, Georges River, Brighton Le Sands and Kurnell.

NSW Maritime yesterday confirmed it recently held talks with jet ski representatives but wasn't backing the current plan to open Harbour access west of the Bridge.

"NSW Maritime is always open to proposals that promote safe boating and can confirm an approach calling for jet skis to be allowed back onto Sydney Harbour but there are no plans to abandon the current exclusion of these craft," a spokesman said.

Ports Minister Joe Tripodi supported NSW Maritime, while Greens MP and ports spokeswoman Lee Rhiannon said the jet ski lobby was using McDonald's and Coke-style spin to try to kid the public that their product was safe for consumption.

"Jet Ski Sydney Harbour has provided no hard evidence that jet skis are quieter, safer or less harmful than before," she said. "US research shows jet ski accidents cause far greater injury than other boating mishaps.

"Only in January, a 13-year-old girl died after a jet ski accident on the Murray River."