Tonnes of debris are dredged up from rivers every year

The scheme was launched on Monday by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa).

COPFS will target such crimes as polluting rivers with raw sewage or chemical spillage and dumping rubbish.

The Scottish Green Party and Friends of the Earth have backed the clampdown.

Lord Advocate Colin Boyd QC, who announced the measure, said: "I am pleased to announce the creation of a network of specialist environmental prosecutors to ensure the robust enforcement of environmental law.

"By working with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, other specialist agencies and our partners in the criminal justice system, we aim to make a real difference to communities and the environment."

Scotland's track record of prosecution on pollution crime has been lamentable, with few cases and those resulting in prosecution attracting low fines Duncan McLaren Friends of the Earth

The Scottish Green Party welcomed the move, but it said it was long overdue.

And it added that it would like to see the executive "move on its parliamentary agreement to develop environmental courts".

Sepa, the agency working closely with the COPFS prosecutors to improve and protect Scotland's environment, also welcomed the move.

Chief executive Campbell Gemmell said: "Sepa and the Crown Office and procurator fiscal service work hard to improve understanding of environmental crime, the impacts of which are are significant, in environmental, social and economic terms.

"Pollution often reduces the quality of everyone's life but ongoing education, effective regulation and this commitment to a specialist prosecution service should send a clear message - Scotland is not prepared to tolerate environmental crime."

Tougher fines

Friends of the Earth said it has campaigned for tougher penalties for "polluters and those companies that put public health and the environment at risk" for many years.

Its chief executive Duncan McLaren said: "To deliver environmental justice we need a zero tolerance approach to pollution and environmental crime."

The campaign group welcomed the introduction of specialist environmental prosecutors.

Mr McLaren went on: "Scotland's track record of prosecution on pollution crime has been lamentable, with few cases and those resulting in prosecution attracting low fines.

"People have a right to a decent environment. That means more than just protecting them from the worst aspects of pollution.