Hiccups in the plans for the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary are being blamed on the commercial fishing lobby.

The ACT party has pulled it's support for the bill, which would set it up amidst concern over fishing rights, and the Maori Party have indicated they might do the same.

David Seymour: Kermadec Sanctuary would be huge inconvenience to fishers

Head of Campaigns for World Wide Fund Peter Hardstaff said setting up the Sanctuary won't undermine anyone's rights.

"We think that the noise that's being made is pretty consistent with what the commercial fishing lobbyists have been doing for years," he said/

Mr Hardstaff said under international law the government actually has a duty to protect marine life.

"I think it's really important to understand that fisheries rights do not mean that anyone can do anything, anywhere, wherever they like."