The Blue Economy (BE) is an economic model that is being advocated for coastal countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by economic growth and sustainable development (SD) experts. Advocates argue that SSA’s vast marine resources should be deployed to facilitate economic development and SD in the region. This chapter contends that there are formidable challenges that impede effective implementation of the BE in SSA. To address these challenges, and to develop a viable BE, the chapter argues that SSA countries ought to adopt substantive BE development principles. Such principles are currently nonexistent. Therefore, as its aim, this chapter prescribed 12 principles to serve as pillars around which each SSA country can articulate actionable initiatives that fit its political-economic context. To achieve this aim, four research questions were answered in the chapter. The research methodology used for this chapter combined the narrative literature review, evidence-based and desktop techniques. These techniques relied on the traditional Google search of the conceptual, empirical and gray literature on the BE, SD and SSA. The techniques resulted in the data that informed the findings of the chapter, and the 12 principles formulated to anchor each SSA country’s bespoke and contextual implementation strategies and guidelines. The findings revealed the nexus of the BE and SD, the challenges facing coastal SSA countries in developing the BE and 10 benefits that would accrue to coastal SSA countries if they develop a viable BE based on the principles prescribed in this chapter.