Politicians are concerned about shipping around the Scottish coast

Ministers have asked Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to draw up a report on a marine park off Scotland's coast.

Environment Minister Ross Finnie said pilot projects were to be launched in Shetland, on the Clyde and at St Abbs Head in Berwickshire.

Critics, though, have said more efforts should be made to give Holyrood greater powers over Scottish waters.

The minister wants the report on the location of the marine national park to be on his desk by early next year. Experts will also focus on what rights and responsibilities it should have.

The idea of a marine national park to protect Scotland's dolphins, whales and sea birds first surfaced in February 2000.

The project, said by ministers to be the first in Britain, could cover both land and sea and may come under the same legislation that covers the Cairngorm and Loch Lomond parks.

The aim would be to:

• Conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the area

• Promote the sustainable use of natural resources

• Push access, enjoyment and understanding

• Lift the sustainable economic and social development of local communities.

Mr Finnie said: "Scotland's coastline and seas are a valuable natural, cultural and economic resource.

"We are committed to better managing that resource in the interests of our communities and the wide range of important species the seas and coasts support.

"Taking care of our coasts and marine environment will help to boost jobs too."

This cautious approach contrasts markedly to the position taken by the UK government Calum Duncan Marine Conservation Society

However, Scottish Environment Link said the minister should be developing a Marine Act in parallel with the Westminster parliament.

Spokesman Lloyd Austin said that any national park should only form part of a network of protected areas at sea.

Marine Conservation Society spokesman Calum Duncan added: "Scotland's seas are crying out for action to safeguard their future.

'Clear measures'

"We would like to see the minister set out more clearly the measures he will take to meet this goal, or when they will be introduced."

He continued: "This cautious approach contrasts markedly to the position taken by the UK Government, which is committed to a Marine Act."

Green MSP Mark Ruskell said the law currently allowed the proposed transfer of Russian heavy oil between ships in the River Forth to be largely unregulated, despite environmental and economic hazards.

A marine national park would boost the economy, it is claimed

"The Scottish Parliament needs to have far more control over activities such as ship-to-ship oil transfer," he said.

But Mr Ruskell added: "In the meantime we need to ensure that the laws for the UK and Scotland are seamless, which means legislating now in Scotland for a single marine act."

The Scottish National Party said the minister should be trying to increase the parliament's present powers.

Environment spokesman Richard Lochhead described it as "idiotic" that Holyrood did not even have the power to stop leaking oil tankers coming into Scotland's waters.

"The current management of our marine environment is a dog's breakfast, but to sort this out any new strategy must include the transfer of full powers over our seas from the UK Government," he said.