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While La Jolla Cove is considered one of the most scenic areas around San Diego, some have said it is also one of the smelliest.

La Jolla Cove draws thousands of tourists a year with its exceptional views, but many notice the rocks that line much of the cove covered with guano -- otherwise known as bird droppings.

"Even though it's nice to be this close to the water, when the smell's that bad, kind of the last thing you want to do is eat," said Megan Price, manager of the Brockton Villa Restaurant at La Jolla Cove.

The restaurant is the business closest to the feces-covered rocks.

"We have a lot of tourists that come in, but locals as well, and that's always an issue," Price added.

Now, the La Jolla Village Merchants Association is demanding the city clean up the mess.

The group released a statement, which said, in part: "… the mess … significantly affects our businesses, hotels, restaurants and general retail in La Jolla, discouraging tourism and embarrassing business owners who try to explain why the city of San Diego allows this excrement to remain untreated."

But people 10News talked to at the cove on Friday said an effort to clean the rocks would be a waste of time and money.

"There's plenty of other things to get upset about, 'poop' is not one of them," said Jake, a 17-year old student at the Arch School in Clairemont.

Students from the Arch School come to the cove once a month to swim as part of their physical education classes.

"You need to reassess your priorities if you're thinking that a few poops on a rock is really keeping you from coming to La Jolla Shores," Jake said.

Stacy Hesters agreed, saying, "It doesn't bother me at all. I think the city has more important worries on their hands."

The city has its hands tied, to some extent, as La Jolla Cove is a federally protected nature preserve. That means there's very little the city can do without federal approval.