About Ken Franke-President

Ken Franke is a retired San Diego Harbor Police Lieutenant serving 30 years. During that
time he managed seaport and airport police service. He also was responsible for combining the police communications center for the seaport with the US Coast Guard Communication Center.

Kens real passion is sportfishing and marine research. His grandfather was the lighthouse keeper in San Diego and took him fishing his first time when he was 6 years old. He has owned and operated charter sportfishing boats for over 35 years off the coast of California.

For the past five years he has been working with NOAA on developing a new stock assessment process for ground fish in California. Their joint efforts have allowed them to cover  thousands of miles off California mapping the seafloor, creating acoustic maps of fish schools, and exploring the ocean with a ROV submarine and some of the most advanced sonar equipment.

Recently Ken received an award from the United States Assistant Undersecretary of Commerce for his work coordinating the NOAA science community and the captains in the SAC fleet to forward all of their habitat data collected during their many years of fishing. This was used by the NOAA scientists to rapidly identify the rocky areas offshore which helped bring an important NOAA  project to its final stages of completion.

In April 2009, Ken assumed charge as President of the Sportfishing Association of California.  His primary focus has been to promote the marine recreational industry and build strong relationships with all organizations that affect the SAC’s ability to operate.  Ken has an amazing work ethic and has already brought SAC to the new age of sportfishing through his collaborative development of infrastructure, using technology for communication to the fleet and public and helping the science and fishing communities work close together.

Ken was appointed this year to be an advisor to the Undersecretary of Commerce while participating in the Marine Fisheries Advisor Committee. He has also been appointed as the Chairman of the Recreational Fishing Subcommittee within MAFAC.  He is also on the Board of Directors for the San Diego Port Tenants Association which works closely with the Port to promote tourism in San Diego.