. >> reporter: the pungent odor created by the excrement of hundreds of sea lions hanging out on theks. >> it is pretty bad. [ laughter ] >> it's got to be honest with you i smelled a lot of things, not to be too personal but it's bad, yeah. >> reporter: a situation that especially stinks for local businesses next to the putrid poop which claimed they are losing tens of thousands of dollars in profits as potential customers are turned off by the foul odor. >> it's a deterrent. >> reporter: but now, a nonprofit group called citizens for odor nuisance abatement have filed a lawsuit against the city of san diego and interim mayor todd gloria demanding this smelly situation be remedied by encouraging the sea lions to relocate. >> they don't need to be here next to the street pooping next to the businesses. >> reporter: earlier this year, a company called blue eagle was hired by the city to chemically clone up the build-up of bird poop in the area. but according to this recent lawsuit, this city-built fence around la jolla cove restricting human access is contributing to the current crisi