I have never been against seagulls per se, and I don't detest them as such even now...BUT.
Last year, on the Pier I witnessed several attacks per day by seagulls, some amusing... and some downright nasty.
In fact I even saw them working in teams to ensure they deprived unsuspecting kids of over-priced ice cream etc.
Interesting though it was to watch them, I didn't appreciate it happening to me, which it did about 5 times.
What I did notice, was that on several occasions the guys with the hawks were indeed present on the pier, and it was a VERY effective deterrent.
Apart from being beautiful creatures, the Harris Hawk and the others made sure that the seagulls left visitors unmolested while they ate.
The seagulls wouldn't come within half a mile of them.