Brief
Black Labrador Sgiath wins Animal of the Year for detecting invasive sea squirt
The dog, trained by marine ecologist Dr Texa Sim, received the International Fund for Animal Welfare prize in London.
By Felo News Desk · Published
A black Labrador named Sgiath has been named Animal of the Year by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), the Independent reported on 15 October 2026. The six‑year‑old dog, originally trained for mountain rescue, was honoured at a ceremony in London for detecting the invasive marine organism Didemnum vexillum, commonly called “sea vomit.”
What happened
Sgiath was trained by marine ecologist Dr Texa Sim to sniff out the carpet sea squirt, a fast‑spreading species that can smother native marine life in harbours, oyster farms and other infrastructure. The training began as a proof‑of‑concept project while Sim worked on a native oyster restoration scheme on Scotland’s west coast. After successful trials, IFAW awarded Sgiath the Animal of the Year prize at a London ceremony on Thursday.
What the reports add
The Independent notes that Didemnum vexillum normally requires laboratory analysis or DNA testing for identification, but Sgiath can locate the organism quickly, even when it is hidden among other marine life. The article also links the work to climate‑change‑driven warming seas, which could accelerate the spread of invasive species around the UK coastline.
What was said
Dr Sim told the Independent, “When I first started this project, I genuinely didn’t know whether it would work.” She added, “The first time I asked her to identify the target species among lots of similar scents, she went straight to it.” Sim also said, “We’re not going to solve the problem entirely with dogs, but they give us another tool.” IFAW’s director of Marine Conservation, Sharon Livermore, said, “Every year, the Animal of the Year award celebrates animals doing extraordinary things, but Sgiath’s story is like nothing we’ve seen before.”
How it came about
Sim developed the idea while working on oyster restoration on Scotland’s west coast, recognizing the threat posed by invasive marine species. The project grew from a single‑dog trial to a recognised conservation tool, culminating in the IFAW award.
Key facts
- Sgiath, a six‑year‑old black Labrador, was named Animal of the Year by IFAW. (independent.co.uk)
- The dog was trained to detect the invasive marine species Didemnum vexillum (sea vomit). (independent.co.uk)
- Training was led by marine ecologist Dr Texa Sim, originally a mountain‑rescue dog. (independent.co.uk)
- The award ceremony took place in London on 15 October 2026. (independent.co.uk)
- IFAW director Sharon Livermore praised the dog’s contribution to conservation science. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Dog that hunts invasive ‘sea vomit’ creature named animal of the year”
