Why is a ‘sea vomit’ hunting dog trending?
Sgiath is trending after being named Animal of the Year by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) on October 15. She is recognized for her pioneering work sniffing out the carpet sea squirt, an invasive organism nicknamed 'sea vomit'.
What happened
- 2008
The carpet sea squirt first arrives on the coasts of Wales and southern England [1].
- 15 Oct, 2026
Sgiath receives the Animal of the Year award at the IFAW Animal Action Awards in London [1], [2], [3].
What you need to know
Sgiath is a six-year-old black Labrador who also works as a mountain rescue dog [1], [2].
The 'sea vomit' (Didemnum vexillum) is an invasive species from Japan that smothers native wildlife and clogs boat propellers [1].
Sgiath provides a fast, cost-effective alternative to laboratory DNA testing for identifying the organism [2], [3].
A second dog named Uisge has since joined Sgiath in the detection work [3].
It is not specified how many colonies Sgiath has found in total, only that she has found hundreds [1].
Background
The carpet sea squirt is a non-native species that competes with local wildlife for nutrients and damages aquaculture infrastructure like oyster cages [1]. Controlling these invaders costs Europe millions of pounds annually [1]. Dr Texa Sim, a marine ecologist, developed the detection project as a proof-of-concept while working on oyster restoration in Scotland [2], [3]. She trained Sgiath to use a 'passive indication' to signal when she finds the scent of the organism [1]. Experts warn that warming seas caused by climate change may allow these invasive species to spread more quickly across UK coastlines, making early detection more critical [1], [2].
Questions people ask
What is 'sea vomit'?
It is a nickname for the carpet sea squirt, an invasive marine organism that looks like slime and can kill native species [1].
How does Sgiath find the sea squirts?
She is trained to recognize the specific scent of the organism, allowing her to find it hidden under seaweed or on boat hulls [1], [3].
Where this came from
[1] bbc.co.uk
Dog that hunts invasive 'sea vomit' honoured as animal of the year
Preview image from bbc.co.uk
[2] independent.co.uk
Dog that hunts invasive ‘sea vomit’ creature named animal of the year
Preview image from independent.co.uk
[3] heraldscotland.com
Dog honoured for breakthrough discovery in sniffing out invasive ‘sea vomit’
Preview image from heraldscotland.com
Found through Google Trends and drafted with AI from at least two cited sources. Published automatically after passing our automated checks for sources, wording and safety. It may not have been reviewed by a person yet. Report a correction.