The party’s Nazier Paulsen says this would ensure all citizens benefit from SA's natural resources.

CAPE TOWN - The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have promised to nationalise the oceans if elected to power.

The party's premier candidate in the Western Cape Nazier Paulsen has told the Cape Town Press Club that doing so would ensure all South Africans benefitted from the country's natural resources.

He says up until now only international companies have benefitted.

Paulsen says those who live in the Western Cape should decide how these resources are allocated.

"Quotas are allocated to huge fishing companies. But this is a national competency and we should agitate that the province determines the allocation and who has access to the ocean."

Local fishermen have been up in arms in recent months over the allocation of new fishing rights.

A group of commercial line fishermen recently took government to court after their application for new rights failed.