Labrador Sgiath named Animal of the Year for detecting invasive sea squirt

Sgiath, a black Labrador from the Scottish Highlands, has been named Animal of the Year by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). The award recognizes her work in detecting the carpet sea squirt, an invasive marine organism nicknamed "sea vomit" that threatens coastal wildlife and economies.

Detecting the Invasive Species

Sgiath works with her owner, marine ecologist Dr Texa Sim, to locate colonies of the carpet sea squirt, formally known as Didemnum vexillum. The species, believed to have originated in Japan, arrived in the UK in 2008 and has since spread to several seaside locations. It can smother native species and clog aquaculture infrastructure, costing millions of pounds annually across Europe to manage.

According to the BBC, Sgiath is thought to be the UK's first sea squirt-hunting dog, while the Herald Scotland reports she is believed to be the first dog in the world trained to detect this specific organism. The dog uses her scent detection skills to find the sea squirt, which can be difficult to spot among seaweed and on structures like pontoons.

Dr Sim, based near Glencoe, initially trained Sgiath as a mountain rescue dog. She later adapted the dog's skills for marine conservation. "When I first started this project, I genuinely didn't know whether it would work," Sim said. "No one had really explored whether dogs could help tackle this problem in the marine environment. It began as a proof-of-concept project and has exceeded every expectation I had."

Training and Methodology

To detect the sea squirt, Sgiath is trained to give a "passive indication," described by Sim as "a kind of a stillness, or a stare." This quiet approach contrasts with her mountain rescue training, where she barks and bounces to alert handlers to lost hikers.

Dr Sim noted that Sgiath's ability to pinpoint the scent is precise. "She just does a survey with her nose, essentially, she can pinpoint exactly where it is, so it's much easier," Sim said. The dog can detect the species even when it is hidden among other marine organisms or in water samples.

Recognition and Impact

The IFAW will present the award at its 26th annual Animal Action Awards ceremony on Thursday, October 15, at BAFTA London. Sharon Livermore, IFAW's Director of Marine Conservation, stated, "Sgiath’s story is like nothing we’ve seen before. Her trailblazing work demonstrates the remarkable potential of dogs to contribute to conservation science in entirely new ways."

Dr Martyn Kurr, a marine biologist from Bangor University, highlighted the broader implications of this work. He noted that scientists are beginning to realize that "these wonderful animals can smell changes in water that signal a marine invasion which otherwise might have gone unnoticed."

Why it matters

The use of detection dogs in marine environments represents a new approach to managing invasive species. As climate change leads to warmer seas, the spread of invasive organisms like the carpet sea squirt may accelerate. Early detection by dogs like Sgiath offers a rapid, cost-effective tool for preventing these species from becoming established in new locations, protecting native biodiversity and marine industries.

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Sources

• bbc.com: Dog that hunts invasive sea creature named animal of the year
• heraldscotland.com: Scottish dog trained to sniff out ‘sea vomit' in world first | The Herald

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.