SUCCESS STORY

Proctor Wells has been a lobsterman for nearly a quarter of a century. He is the son of a lobsterman who was also the son of a lobsterman; heir to an ancient tradition along the bottom of Maine's slate-gray seacoast. "I lobstered with my grandfather," says Proctor, "and I figure that I'll be fishing till I'm old and gray."

The proud lineage has seen some rough years. Wells had chosen his livelihood the old-fashioned way: out of a love for the work, the sea, and the independence. It certainly wasn't out of a love of money. A good year lobstering might bring one-third the wages of a typical factory worker.

Several years ago, he decided to diversify from groundfish and catch tuna and lobster as well; a decision necessary to continue fishing. This meant purchasing a new boat suitable for the new catch. Paying for the boat was a real issue — until he found Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI), a Maine-based organization that supports local entrepreneurs like Wells.

CEI helped finance his new lobster-tuna boat. For Wells, it wasn't just the money CEI provided that was important; it was also how they treated him. "I didn't want to have somebody call me down to the bank, and say, 'Well, gee, I don't know you.' I want to know who I'm dealing with. When I call somebody at CEI, it's like, 'Hey Proctor, how's the fishing?' And that meant a lot to me."

It meant so much that when Wells wanted to again expand his business in 2000 and build a new boat, he went back to CEI for help with the financing. Proctor's new boat is not only equipped to catch groundfish, it is used to fish for data as well. Local fisheries use it for research on biomass, cod tagging, area monitoring, and impact studies.

CEI was proud to assist Proctor with the boat because they have confidence not only in people, but in the efforts being undertaken to rebuild the local fisheries; efforts that include management initiatives and conservation efforts.

In the meantime, Wells was elected the local selectman for his town of Phippsburg, and president of the Maine Fishermans Coop.