Allowing nude bathing on the beach in the centre of Byron Bay would be the best way to deal with 'sex pests', according to the Australian Naturalist Federation.

About 50 people have attended a nude-not-lewd rally at Tyagarah Beach about 10 kilometres north of the popular tourist destination.

Complaints about indecent behaviour last year prompted the Byron Shire Council to reduce the clothes-optional zone at the area's only official nudist beach, and move it away from the main entrance.

But federation president Greg Serow said isolation was not the solution to offensive behaviour by sex pests.

"Stop putting naturist locations in secluded areas," he said. Australian Naturalist Federation president Greg Serow at Tyagarah Beach near Byron Bay. ( Bruce MacKenzie - ABC North Coast )

"These people [people who behave indecently] are not nudists and shouldn't be counted with them.

"This beach shouldn't be here, it should be down in front of the main beach — that's what should happen."

Mr Serow said Australia once had a much more relaxed attitude towards skinny dipping.

"In the 70s it wasn't a problem — to be a person who went skinny dipping was fine," he said.

"You don't get sand in your pants. The water feels quite nice as it's swirling around your body as you're coming in on the waves.

"How can the Government of Australia say a human body is offensive?"

Local nudists would back a move that allowed them to go clothes-free closer to town, but are more concerned about the possible loss of the beach they currently have.

Byron Bay woman Maxine Hawker told the rally, they were being penalised for the offensive behaviour of sex pests who frequented the area.

"I really believe that we need to keep this whole stretch clothing-optional," she said.

"Why do we need to pay the price for the sex pests and predators that have ruined it for us?

"I'm determined to get rid of them, not them get rid of us."

Protesters line up at a 'nude not lewd' rally on Tyagarah Beach, near Byron Bay. (Sept 2018) ( Bruce MacKenzie - ABC North Coast. )

There were 40 cases of indecent or lewd behaviour reported to police in the area past year.

So far this year there have been 47 similar cases, but Tweed-Byron Duty Officer Matt Kehoe said the figures could be misleading.

"As a result of some pretty serious offences back in 2017, we tasked our police from Byron Bay to increase their patrols of that area," he said.

"That's obviously resulted in more detections.

"I've been down there and spoken with residents and people that use the clothing-optional beach area, and the feedback that we have received has been positive.

"They support police going down there to remove some of those people who are coming into the area to act lewdly."

The Byron Council will consider a report on the issue next month.