Dr Texa Sim’s vomiting seaweed dog, Sgiath, has been named animal of the year for finding the invasive carpet sea squirt on beaches. The black Labrador from the Scottish Highlands will be honoured at the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s 26th annual animal Action Awards ceremony on Thursday 15 October.
Dr Texa Sim and Sgiath
Sim, a marine ecologist based near Glencoe, has had Sgiath since she was a puppy and trained her to recognise the scent of the carpet sea squirt. Sgiath was trained as a mountain rescue dog as a pup, then moved into marine conservation work when Sim wondered whether those skills could be used on the shoreline.
Working at low tide with Sim, the six year old has found hundreds of colonies. Sim said, “She just does a survey with her nose, essentially, she can pinpoint exactly where it is, so it’s much easier,” and added, “Sgiath is incredibly clever. Her problem solving and her ability to take on new challenges and learn so quickly are just phenomenal, and it’s so amazing to watch.”
Didemnum vexillum on UK beaches
The species, formally named Didemnum vexillum, is also called sea vomit. Marine experts believe it came from Japan and reached the shores of the south of England and Wales in 2008. It has since spread to several seaside locations across the UK.
The carpet sea squirt can look like slime among seaweed and on structures such as pontoons and oyster cages, which makes visual searching difficult. It can appear in shades from orange to cream, and it can smother and kill native species if left uncontrolled.
Action Awards on 15 October
Sim said, “When I first started this project, I genuinely didn't know whether it would work,” and, “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.” The award puts Sgiath at the center of a method that depends on scent rather than sight, with the dog thought to be the UK's first sea squirt-hunting dog.
How many colonies of carpet sea squirt Sgiath has found in total is not stated, but the ceremony will put a number to the recognition by naming her animal of the year.
