Nature-based entrepreneurship during climate change: a fly-fishing case on the Yellowstone River

Research methodology The primary method of data collection was through a semi-structured interview on October 10, 2018. IRB approval was obtained prior to any interviews; protocol approval was provided to the publisher. The name of the interviewee was masked, and the names of nonrelated corporate sponsors were redacted to ensure confidentiality in line with Montana state law. Figures 3 and 4 were derived from United States Geological Survey (USGS, 2024) data and Figure 5 on NASA (2024) data. The “USGS monitoring site” in Figure 1 corresponds with the longitude/latitude coordinates for data retrieval. Case overview/synopsis George Beau was a nature-based entrepreneur on the iconic Yellowstone River outside of Livingston, Montana, USA. Nature-based entrepreneurs exploited the natural environment or created goods or services derived from the natural environment. Beau operated a fly-fishing outfitter/guide venture where he was the business (i.e. outfitter) and individual who took clients on the river (i.e. guide). Beau’s stretch of the Yellowstone River was a blue-ribbon fishery with superior (1) fishing quality, (2) outdoor experiences, (3) fish habitat and (4) economic benefits. Yet, the consequences of climate change were challenging the viability of reliably fishing commercially on the river. For instance, two distinct climate change impacts that constrained outfitter/guides were (1) extreme floods of 1997 and 1998 that washed out a fishery, and (2) a parasitic mass fish kill event in 2016 that shut the river down for over two weeks. Commercial and noncommercial congestion from recreation were also making it more-and-more difficult to guide the river. With his superior client book of business in-hand, Beau was at a crossroad: should he (1) continue as a solopreneur on the Yellowstone River, or (2) divest his venture while it was still valuable? Complexity academic level The interdisciplinary case was designed and developed for an undergraduate, upper-level strategic management (capstone) course.