A waterfront restaurant in Perth has begun arming its customers with water guns to help them fight off flocks of seagulls that are defying all attempts to stop them disrupting their dining experience.

Toby Evans, owner of 3 Sheets pizzeria, said it was a desperate measure, but the seagulls had become so good at stealing food, particularly off the plates of children, that it was affecting his business.

"We wanted to so something humanely and there's not much you can do," he said.

Water guns come with the meal at the 3 Sheets pizzeria. ( Supplied: Toby Evans )

"So we went down to Toys R Us and bought a load of super soakers, we've got one on each of our outdoor tables.

"We just fill them up with water and when the seagulls get too close the customers unleash Armageddon with water on them."

The customers 'love it'

Mr Evans said the measure had been greeted with enthusiasm by customers at the restaurant, which is at Hillarys Boat Harbour in Perth's north.

"They love it, especially the blokes, they will sit down with a meal and a beer and they get into the spirit of it," Mr Evans said.

"The customers appreciate that we are trying to do as much as we can and the customers seem to enjoy it.

Water guns line the tables at the 3 sheets pizzeria. ( Supplied: Toby Evans )

"They go well — we can scare them off a bit and have some fun and the kids love it.

"It's also training the seagulls to tell them 'you are not welcome here guys, go and get your own food, go to the ocean where you belong'."

Mr Evans said he had tried other measures to stop the birds, including electronic booms, decoys, fake owls and fake falcons, but nothing had worked.

The seagulls even had the cheek to use the fake owl deterrent devices as handy perches from which to mount their attacks.

He said the seagulls were also a problem at many other restaurants, including some on Rottnest Island.

Mr Evans said he had not received any complaints about his method of controlling the birds.

He said seagulls lived on the water and the spray from the weapons was no worse than getting a bit of seawater splashed over them.