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Labrador named animal of the year for hunting 'sea vomit'

Sgiath is also a trained mountain rescue dog - she is pictured here on a snowy mountain scene wearing an orange high-vis jacket and a cartoon crown has been superimposed onto her head. Dr Texa Sim

Sgiath has been named Animal Of The Year 2026

A Labrador named Sgiath (pronounced Skee-ah) has been crowned animal of the year for her work searching for a harmful, slimy substance called sea squirt, also disgustingly known as 'sea vomit'.

The IFAW named Sgiath animal of the year at its 26th annual animal Action Awards ceremony.

The black lab who lives in the Scottish Highlands, sniffs out the gooey marine creature, which is harmful to coastal wildlife and can kill native species.

Sgiath was a mountain rescue dog but has now been trained to sniff out the sticky substance which can be tricky to spot as it clings to pontoons and oyster cages.

The six-year-old pooch is thought to be the UK's first sea squirt-hunting dog.

A medium sized black dog in an orange high viz jacket is standing in shallow water on the coast and is staring into the camera. Hanging next to her is a platform dripping with an orange and green gooey slime.Dr Texa Sim

Marine ecology dog Sgiath at work

What is "sea vomit"?

A close up of two metal crates hanging over the water's edge covered with a gooey orange slime that is dripping into the water.Dr Texa Sim

Carpet sea squirt, or sea vomit, has spread to several places around the UK

Marine experts believe that carpet sea squirt, officially named Didemnum vexillum, originated in Japan but arrived on the shores of the south of England and Wales in 2008.

It can appear in various shades - from orange to cream - and has now spread to several seaside locations across the UK.

It grows and spreads quickly during the warmer summer months and, with warming seas, there are fears it could spread further.

Sgiath's owner, Dr Texa Sim, is a marine ecologist who studies how marine species interact with each other and their surrounding environment.

What does Sgiath the Labrador do?

A woman in waterproofs, wellies and a high vis vest stands ankle deep in shallow water with her black labrador on a short blue lead. To the right is a large fishing cage like structure dripping in dark green seaweed. Dr Texa Sim

Carpet sea squirt can be tricky to spot among seaweed

Dr Texa says Sgiath has so far discovered hundreds of colonies of sea squirt.

"She 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."

In her role as a mountain rescue dog, she has been trained to bounce around and bark when she has found a lost hiker.

But when searching for sea vomit, she has to behave in a very different way, meaning she's had to learn a whole new set of skills.

She says Sgiath has to give what's known as a "passive indication" when she finds the sea squirt.

"It's a kind of a stillness, or a stare."

A medium sized black labrador stands on the water's edge staring out to sea. It is low tide and in the background are cages covered in a green and orange slime. Sgiath is wearing a brown halter collar with the words 'working dog'.Dr Texa Sim

Sgiath has been trained to stare when she finds carpet sea squirt

When Sgiath is not out finding lost people or marine creatures, she is just like all other pups and likes to be wrapped up snoozing in her blanket.

Sgiath, and Dr Texa's younger Labrador Uisage, are both working dogs that are motivated by treats and plenty of playtime.