Working for the Coast is co-ordinated by a dedicated team of people in the Coastal Management Section of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, and also supported by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA).

Implementing agents are responsible for managing the work on the ground.

Project teams are recruited and trained to carry out 'Working for the Coast' tasks. Criteria for selection are that project teams are made up of local, unemployed people with a ratio of 60% female, 20% youth (between the ages of 18-25) and 2% disabled persons. Preference is given to female run households.