The park would aim to conserve and enhance natural heritage

Western Isles MSP Alasdair Morrison had demanded that his constituency should not be covered by the park.

He said it would be "lunacy" to introduce such a park as Scotland's first ever local management group for fisheries is launched.

But Mr Finnie said the park would not "necessarily interfere" with the group.

The minister said the coastal and marine national parks had not inhibited the work of any farmers.

I think we must bear some responsibility for a great degree of confusion that has arisen Ross Finnie Environment Minister

The Scottish Executive said a marine park would aim to conserve and enhance natural and cultural heritage, while promoting access, economic and social development and the sustainable use of natural resources.

But some people in the Highlands and Islands have expressed concerns that designation may simply burden fishing businesses and other rural firms with another layer of red tape.

Conservation agency Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) last month named five areas it said were best suited for the designation - which would create the first park of its kind in Europe.

One of the areas included North Uist, Sound of Harris, Harris and south Lewis in the Western Isles.

Questioned by Mr Morrison at Holyrood, the minister renewed his pledge to launch a public consultation in early summer.

Mr Finnie said local communities would be consulted over the plans

"I've asked Scottish Natural Heritage to continue to engage with local communities ahead of the consultation, to explain and discuss the proposals," he said.

"I can give an assurance that we will be listening to all views and will take them into account before any decision about the designation of a park is made."

Mr Morrison said: "It is absolutely imperative that we allow the recently established regional management committee on fisheries, that (Mr Finnie) so helpfully helped establish, a period of at least three to four years before any decision about the inclusion of the Western Isles in the proposed marine national park."

The MSP urged the minister to "ensure that, given the articulation of concerns about duplication and other matters, all areas relating to the Western Isles are withdrawn from the proposed marine national park".

Economic activity

But Mr Finnie said he was reluctant to go that far.

"I think we must bear some responsibility for a great degree of confusion that has arisen between the purpose and effect of a marine and coastal national park and, for example, a marine protected area," he said.

"A marine protected area quite clearly places new and very different obligations on that area in relation to conservation."

He said a marine and coastal park was not intended to stop economic activity.

"There is no proposal that would necessarily interfere with the inshore fisheries management group continuing to operate within the ambit of a marine national park", he said.

"We continue to permit economic activity but we do put it in a framework of presenting an area of outstanding excellence, both in terms of its conservation in its wider sense but also public access, both domestically and internationally."