Published: Wednesday, 3rd February, 2010 3:15pm

Sea squirt invades Largs

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An invasive marine creature known as carpet sea squirt has been discovered at Largs Marina.

It is the first time the spongy species, which scientists fear could smother other marine life, has been sighted in Scotland.

Also known as didemnum vexillim and originating in Japan, it reproduces quickly and has been described by experts as a "real menace" which could have a major "economic impact" on the area.

It is thought it may have been brought into Scottish waters after attaching itself to the hulls of visiting boats.

Surveys of the Clyde and Argyll coast, funded by Scottish Natural Heritage and Marine Scotland, are now set to be carried out to discover how widespread it has become and how it might be tackled.

Marine scientists have been on the lookout for the non-native invasive species in Scottish waters for some time, but were only recently able to confirm its presence.