A Scottish Labrador named Sgiath is honoured as Animal of the Year after being trained to detect and hunt an invasive marine species known as “sea vomit,” a nickname for the carpet sea squirt. The working dog is based in the Scottish Highlands and is owned by marine ecologist Dr Texa Sim, who says the effort began as a proof-of-concept project.
Outlets report that Sgiath’s work is designed to help limit the impact of the sea squirt, which can smother native wildlife and damage ecosystems. It can also interfere with oyster farms and marine infrastructure. The carpet sea squirt is believed to have originated from Japan and was first detected in the UK in 2008. BBC News and other coverage note that the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) presents the award and highlights Sgiath’s pioneering approach to finding invasive marine species using trained detection dogs.
Reports describe how the sea squirt spreads and reproduces, including that it can clone itself and grow rapidly, with warmer conditions helping it multiply. The Institute of Marine Research is cited as noting limits on larval production in colder waters, while spread can still occur via shipping and fragments.
