A consultation has been launched on unconventional oil and gas extraction (UOG).

A moratorium on the process, which includes hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" and coal bed methane extraction, has been in place since January 2015.

A dedicated website has now been created for the public during the duration of the consultation, which will run until 31 May.

The site contains information on unconventional oil and gas, as well as findings from commissioned research by the Scottish Government.

UOG means development connected to the onshore exploration, appraisal or production of coal bed methane or shale oil or shale gas using unconventional extraction techniques, including hydraulic fracturing.

Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse said the debate over the process had proven to be both "complex and controversial".

"It is also an issue that has stimulated intense discussion, motivated by deeply held and sincere views on all sides," he said.

"The Scottish Government has sought to present impartial, independent information on unconventional oil and gas in order to encourage informed dialogue and debate. This consultation does not set out or advocate a preferred Scottish Government position or policy. Instead, we want to create space for dialogue and allow different perspectives to come forward.

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"As most of Scotland's unconventional oil and gas deposits occur in and around former coalfields and oil shale fields in Scotland's Central Belt, which contains some of the most densely populated areas of the country, as well as in the area around Canonbie, Dumfriesshire, it is vitally important that communities, businesses and interest groups from across Scotland have an opportunity to put their views across."

Mr Wheelhouse added once the consultation closes, the government will consider the "full range of evidence" before making its recommendation.

"We will then ask members of the Scottish Parliament to vote on our recommendation, and we will come to a final decision by the end of 2017 on whether or not unconventional oil and gas has a role in Scotland's energy mix," he said.

Lang Banks, director of WWF Scotland, said the vast majority of fossil fuel reserves "need to be left in the ground and unburned".

"Any decision to access more fossil fuel reserves by using fracking would fly in the face of the Scottish Government's much welcomed ambition of securing half of all of Scotland's energy needs from renewables by 2030," he said.

"When given the choice, opinion polling tells us that the public always backs clean renewables over polluting fossil fuels. We are confident that by the end of this consultation the public will give fracking a resounding thumbs down.

"We need to be stepping up action to address the threats posed to people and nature by climate change. 

"The climate science is clear. The vast majority of fossil fuel reserves need to be left in the ground and unburned. We expect Scottish Ministers to reflect this fact in their final decision."

(LM)