The Scottish Government is seeking views on whether coastguard services should be devolved from Westminster to Holyrood.

The move follows anger about a Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) plan to reduce the number of centres from five to two, one of which would be part-time.

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has written to more than 40 organisations with an interest in marine safety, including port boards, ferry companies, coastal councils, fishing groups and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

The groups have been asked how the coastguard service can best be managed, whether the current set-up is adequate, how many centres there should be and whether there is a strong case to devolve coastguard functions.

Mr Lochhead said: "The UK review of the coastguard services recommends maintaining just one 24-hour centre in Scotland - at Aberdeen - and keeping one other, either in Stornoway or Shetland, in daylight hours only. If these unjustifiable measures are implemented, maritime safety in Scotland will surely be compromised.

"Scotland holds 60% of the UK's coastline but these proposals would leave us with just a quarter of the co-ordination centres. This dangerous proposal is playing fast and loose with lives and safety.

"With ever increasing activity on Scotland's seas and around our coastline, the MCA's proposals raise serious doubts about the UK Government's ability to manage the coastguard service. That's why I'm keen to hear views from those who are most affected by the proposals on how this valuable public service can best be managed in Scotland, including the merits of devolution."

The SNP administration, which says it was not consulted before the announcement, intends to use responses in its submission to the MCA.

However, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott, the MSP for Shetland, said: "This is not the time for a constitutional debate.

"We need all parties to stand behind Scotland's coastguard stations and ensure the UK Government retain this vital service. That is the point that the Scottish Government should be supporting."

Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray added: "The only thing more ill-thought out than the Tory plan to close coastguard stations is the SNP plan to break up the whole coastguard service."

Across the UK, the network of 18 maritime rescue co-ordination centres would be reduced to eight. Greenock and Forth are likely to close and consultation will consider whether Shetland or Stornoway remain, the Government said.

MSPs debated the issue in January, when the plans were described as "completely unacceptable".