Protesters at the Scottish Parliament who want to stop ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Moray Firth should "stop off at the Scotland Office", the First Minister said.

Nicola Sturgeon made the comments at First Minister's Questions on Thursday after local SNP MSP Gail Ross backed the protesters.

The Cromarty Firth port authority is seeking permission to allow the transfer of crude oil at sea.

Decisions over ship-to-ship transfers rest with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, an executive arm of the UK Government.

Ross asked the First Minister if she would join her in urging "the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to listen closely to the views of my constituents and to pay close attention to the potentially environmental impact if ship-to-ship if it was allowed to go ahead.

Sturgeon said she "is unconvinced" the oil transfers "can or should take place in the Cromarty Firth without resulting in an unacceptable risk to the marine environment-in particular a European designated area for bottlenose dolphins".

The First Minister added: "Finally can I say presiding officer I warmly welcome those who are outside parliament today, some of them may be in parliament, too.

"Let me assure them the Scottish Government absolutely hears their concerns and will continue to do everything we can to make sure those concerns are heard by those taking the decisions.

"Perhaps once they leave parliament today, it may be good advice to them, to stop off at the Scotland Office and make sure the UK Government is also hearing their concerns and I hope their concerns will be listened to their as well."

The Scottish Government has pushed for the matter to be devolved to Holyrood in recent years.

The Scottish Greens dispute the devolved administration's claims it lacks power over the matter and has called for it to do more.

Mark Ruskell, the party's environment spokesman, said: "The precious environment and the livelihoods of coastal communities remain at risk as the Scottish Government continues to sit on the fence on this vital issue.

"While the decision to licence the application ultimately rests with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Scottish ministers have clear legal powers to protect the environment, and the environmental importance of the Moray Firth couldn't be clearer.

"They need to put their foot down, and show whose side they are on."

A spokesman for the Scotland Office declined to comment on the First Minister's comments.