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Dog Trained to Spot Invasive Sea Squirt Wins Animal Award

By Drooid · Oct 15, 2026, 10:13 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

International Fund for Animal Welfare named Sgiath the Animal of the Year at its Animal Action Awards on 15 October.
Ecologist Dr Texa Sim trains Sgiath, a six-year-old black Labrador, to locate carpet sea-squirt colonies at low tide.
Sgiath dives under seaweed and pinpoints invasive Didemnum vexillum patches, exceeding Sim’s proof-of-concept expectations.
Marine biologist Dr Martyn Kurr warned the species outcompetes natives, clogs aquaculture pens and costs Europe millions.

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Story summary

International Fund for Animal Welfare named Sgiath the Animal of the Year at its Animal Action Awards on 15 October.
Ecologist Dr Texa Sim trains Sgiath, a six-year-old black Labrador, to locate carpet sea-squirt colonies at low tide.
Sgiath dives under seaweed and pinpoints invasive Didemnum vexillum patches, exceeding Sim’s proof-of-concept expectations.
Marine biologist Dr Martyn Kurr warned the species outcompetes natives, clogs aquaculture pens and costs Europe millions.