Scottish Dog Wins Award for Sniffing Out 'Sea Vomit

A mountain rescue dog from Scotland is proving that conservation heroes come with wagging tails and wet noses.

Sgiath, a Labrador based near Glencoe, has earned the International Fund for Animal Welfare's Animal of the Year award for her pioneering work detecting "sea vomit." The invasive marine species, scientifically known as Didemnum vexillum, smothers native wildlife and threatens oyster farms across UK coastlines.

Her handler, marine ecologist Dr. Texa Sim, trained Sgiath to become what's believed to be the first dog in the world capable of sniffing out this marine invader. Paddling along the coast during low tide, Sgiath can detect tiny fragments of the species clinging to boat hulls, fishing gear, and ropes.

The species spreads rapidly across harbors and marine infrastructure, making early detection critical. Once widespread, it becomes difficult and costly to manage.

Dr. Sim developed the idea while working on an oyster restoration project on Scotland's west coast. "When I first started this project, I genuinely didn't know whether it would work," she said.

Detection dogs are common on land for finding invasive plants and animals, but no one had explored whether they could tackle marine threats. While traditional identification requires specialist laboratory analysis and DNA testing, Sgiath can detect the scent quickly and accurately, even when it's hidden among other marine organisms.

"The first time I asked her to identify the target species among lots of similar scents, she went straight to it," Dr. Sim recalled. "That was the moment I thought: maybe this is actually going to work."

The Ripple Effect

Sgiath's success has already inspired expansion. She's now joined by Uisge, a three-year-old Labrador protégé who's rapidly following in her pawprints.

Together, the dogs have demonstrated an extraordinary ability to distinguish the invasive species from other sea squirts and marine organisms. They've even identified traces of its scent in water samples.

"The dogs constantly surprise me," said Dr. Sim. "Every time I think I've found the limit of what they're capable of, they show me I was wrong."

The timing couldn't be more critical. Climate change is warming UK seas, creating conditions that allow invasive marine species to spread more rapidly.

Sharon Livermore, IFAW's Director of Marine Conservation, praised Sgiath's trailblazing approach. "For her life-saving abilities as a mountain rescue dog alone, Sgiath would be worthy of recognition," she said. "But by helping to pioneer a world-first approach to detecting invasive marine species, she has placed herself in a league of her own."

Sgiath and Dr. Sim will receive their award at the Animal Action Awards ceremony at BAFTA London on October 15, celebrating one very good girl who's rewriting the rules of marine conservation.