02/19/2025
Honoring the hardworking fishing families who keep our waters thriving! 🌊⚓ The F/V Francis E. and the Eagan family have been valued customers for years, and we’re proud to support this dedicated father-daughter duo and their commitment to Rhode Island’s seafood industry.
Meet father-daughter duo, Dan and Katie Eagan. The Eagan’s are a multi-generational fishing family operating out of Prudence Island.
Dan began fishing while still in high school and got his commercial fishing license in 1976. He earned a degree in Biology from the University of New England, and after graduating returned to working as a fisherman. He fishes for quahogs, whelk, and lobster off his boat the F/V Francis E. Dan says that when Katie started to work with him, he enjoyed having the ability to spend time with her on the water and share his knowledge of fisheries with her. He says his favorite part of the work he does is the ability to work for himself, and that at 66 years old, he still gets excited about fishing. Dan says his favorite fishery is whelk because it is consistent. Dan was also one of RI Seafood’s microgrant recipients and received funds for the black sea bass aggregate program.
Katie started working as a deckhand for her father in the early 2000’s while in high school. After graduating she attended URI where she earned a degree in Marine Affairs. She then spent time working for the Peace Corps, and as a park ranger for RIDEM. In 2007, Katie went back to fishing commercially full time. She dives for quahogs when the weather permits, as well as fishes for finfish, whelk, and lobster. Katie says that she enjoys all the fisheries she partakes in because they are diverse, but that finfish is her favorite. Katie says one of her favorite things about the work she does is seeing the reward in her hard work, she likes pulling up a trap and seeing the fish in it. Katie also is also part of the Marine Fisheries Council, and Chair of the shellfish advisory panel.
The Eagan’s fish year-round and do direct sales of lobster and whelk. They enjoy connecting with their community and the interactions that come from direct sales; sharing their own recipes while learning from customers about new ways to cook seafood.
Connect with the people of Rhode Island's seafood community and : visit SeafoodRI.com to learn more.
