Strategic analysis of development of entrepreneurship and start-up businesses in the field of warm-water fish

The main purpose of this applied research which was carried out by a mixed-method (qualitative + quantitative) approach, was to identify and provide strategies for the development of entrepreneurial ecosystems and start-up businesses in the field of warm-water fish. The statistical population of the research in the qualitative part included 12 experts in entrepreneurship, business, and fisheries, who were selected by snowball sampling, and data were collected from them so the theoretical saturation was achieved. In the quantitative part, the statistical population consisted of experts in the field of fisheries and entrepreneurship from three categories of policymakers, decision-makers, experts, and activists in the field of warm water fish and fisheries operators, of whom 40 interviews and questionnaires were completed through convenience sampling method. In the qualitative part of the research, using the content analysis technique of the interviews, four dimensions of the SWOT model including strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats were identified and it was provided to the respondents in the form of a questionnaire, and the data was collected from them. Based on the results of the quantitative part, strengths in the interior and weaknesses in the exterior environment were dominant. In other words, the development strategies of this ecosystem are within the range of competitive-diversity strategies or adaptive strategies. These strategies try to make the most of the available opportunities by reducing weaknesses. Finally, for the development of entrepreneurship and start-up businesses in the field of warm-water fish, a set of strategies in seven categories of inputs, production and producer, collection/processing, distribution/procurement, financial resources, market/customer, and human resources were proposed.