Lobsterman Vows to Continue Fight After Supreme Court Declines GPS Tracking Case

Fifth-generation lobsterman Frank Thompson stated he is not giving up his fight against a federal GPS vessel-tracking requirement after the Supreme Court declined to hear his challenge. Thompson fears the mandate, which he likens to a 24/7 "ankle bracelet" on his boat, threatens his livelihood and could set a precedent for increased government surveillance in other industries.

"This is totally against the Fourth Amendment, and somebody's got to hear it one way or another," Thompson told Fox News Digital. "This black box that they're putting aboard the boat is not legal, in my mind, and I'm not a criminal."

The mandate requires federally licensed lobster boats in Maine to install electronic tracking devices. According to the Maine Department of Marine Resources, these devices record a boat's location once per minute while in motion and every six hours when docked. Thompson contends that the device collects data even during personal trips, raising significant privacy concerns.

Thompson's legal battle centered on the argument that the warrantless tracking infringes upon his Fourth Amendment rights. His attorney, Matthew Gilliam of the Pacific Legal Foundation, argued that the "forced trespass" constituted an unreasonable search and seizure. However, a federal judge dismissed the case, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit upheld that decision, ruling that the tracking requirement did not violate the Fourth Amendment due to the lobstering industry being closely regulated.

The Maine Department of Marine Resources implemented the rule in 2023 at the direction of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. State officials and conservationists support the mandate, citing its necessity for protecting endangered North Atlantic right whales, monitoring lobster populations, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the industry.

"They're bringing it up because it's for the whales," Thompson said. "Well, the government's lying through their teeth like they always do, and I'm not a criminal."

The American Farm Bureau Federation supported Thompson’s appeal to the Supreme Court, filing an amicus brief that argued the lower court’s reasoning could weaken Fourth Amendment protections for farmers, ranchers, and others in regulated industries. Thompson expressed concern that similar surveillance could be imposed on other professions, impacting their independence.

Despite the Supreme Court's decision, Thompson plans to continue working with his legal team. "I'm fighting for everybody, not just myself," Thompson said. "I'm just fighting for freedom for everybody."

The Conservation Law Foundation, which filed a brief in favor of the tracking requirement, praised the Supreme Court's decision. Sarah Shahabi, CLF Associate Attorney, stated, "This decision is a valuable step toward appropriately managing this iconic species."

Maine DMR Commissioner Carl Wilson echoed this sentiment, asserting in a statement that the data collection is "critically important to the long-term sustainability of the lobster fishery and resource."