U.S. Supreme Court declines Maine lobster boat tracking appeal

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a legal challenge brought by a Maine lobsterman regarding a requirement for electronic vessel tracking. The decision concludes a multi-year lawsuit initiated by Frank Thompson, a lobsterman from Vinalhaven.

The dispute centers on a 2023 rule implemented by the Maine Department of Marine Resources and passed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. The regulation requires all federally licensed lobster vessels to operate GPS trackers. Thompson argued that the mandate constituted unreasonable search and seizure, violating Fourth Amendment protections.

Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Carl Wilson stated that the tracking data is essential for the long-term sustainability of the fishery, noting it will assist in stock assessments and offshore enforcement. Conversely, Thompson’s attorney, Matthew Gilliam of the Pacific Legal Foundation, maintained that the requirement for around-the-clock surveillance on private boats remains a serious constitutional concern.