Dog that hunts invasive ‘sea vomit’ honoured as animal of the year
Sgiath, a six-year-old black labrador from the Scottish Highlands, has been named animal of the year by a charity for helping find carpet sea squirt, an invasive marine species also known as “sea vomit”. Working with marine ecologist Dr Texa Sim, she sniffs out colonies that can smother and kill native wildlife, making them easier to locate and tackle.
The species, formally called Didemnum vexillum, is thought to have come from Japan and was recorded on the south coast of England and in Wales in 2008. It has since spread to several UK coastal locations, where it can also clog aquaculture pens, marine infrastructure and machinery; warmer seas may help it spread further. Sgiath, originally trained for mountain rescue, has learned to signal finds by sitting or staring quietly, and is thought to be the UK’s first sea squirt-hunting dog.
- Sgiath has been named animal of the year.
- The labrador detects invasive carpet sea squirt.
- The species threatens wildlife and marine infrastructure.
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Carpet sea squirt, or “sea vomit”, is an invasive sea creature thought to have come from Japan. It was recorded in England and Wales in 2008 and has since spread to other UK coastal areas.
The sea squirt can grow over surfaces in thick colonies, smothering native wildlife and clogging fish-farming pens and marine equipment. Warmer seas may help it spread further.
Marine ecologist Dr Texa Sim works with Sgiath, a black Labrador trained to sniff out the colonies. She was first trained for mountain rescue and now signals a find by sitting or staring quietly, helping people locate areas to tackle.