Environment Minister Richard Lochhead expressed his "disappointment" yesterday that a UK Marine Bill announced at Westminster proposed no further devolution of powers.

Pledging to raise the issue with his Westminster counterparts, he said the Scottish Parliament had already backed demands by the Scottish Government, the fishing industry and conservationists that control of the marine environment 12 to 200 nautical miles off-shore be devolved to Scotland.

Responding to the UK Marine Bill which proposes that control be reserved to Westminster, Mr Lochhead said: "Anyone who cares about our marine environment will be delighted that governments north and south of the border are preparing improved management of our seas.

"We are disappointed that the UK Government has not used the opportunity to accept the case for any new powers relating to devolved matters and offshore marine conservation measures to be the part of the Scottish Marine Bill."

He said we had "a cluttered and complex marine management system in Scotland with far too many pieces of legislation" and said that Holyrood had united behind Scotland having more responsibilities over the marine environment.

"Reclaiming control over Scotland's seas will help safeguard their future," he said. "As it currently stands the UK Marine Bill does not take into account the distinctive marine environment of the seas around Scotland."