Sgiath, a black Labrador from the Scottish Highlands, has received animal of the year recognition from the International Fund for Animal Welfare at its annual animal Action Awards ceremony. The six-year-old dog works with her owner, Dr Texa Sim, a marine ecologist based near Glencoe, to identify colonies of carpet sea squirts along coastal areas at low tide.
The carpet sea squirt, formally known as Didemnum vexillum, is an invasive marine organism that poses significant ecological and economic threats. The species can smother and kill native marine life while also clogging aquaculture systems and maritime infrastructure. Originally from Japan, the creature first appeared on shores in southern England and Wales and has since spread to multiple locations across the UK, with concerns about further expansion due to warming ocean temperatures.
Sgiath appears to be the UK’s first dog trained specifically for sea squirt detection work. After initial training as a mountain rescue dog, Sim explored whether the Labrador’s scent-detection abilities could be applied to marine conservation efforts. The dog has been trained to recognize the scent signature of the carpet sea squirt and alert her handler through a passive indication, such as stillness or staring, rather than the active barking used in rescue operations.
According to marine experts, the invasive species presents a substantial problem across Europe, with control and cleanup efforts costing millions annually. Dr Martyn Kurr from Bangor University noted that non-native biofouling species compete with native wildlife for nutrients and resources. He emphasized that scientists are increasingly recognizing dogs’ capacity to detect subtle changes in marine environments that could signal invasive species presence before human detection methods might identify them.
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