U.S.Court order
Supreme Court declines Maine lobstermen's Fourth Amendment challenge to boat tracking
The U.S. Supreme Court on October 5, 2026, declined to review a challenge by Maine lobstermen to a state Department of Marine Resources rule requiring continuous tracking of vessels that hold federal lobster permits. The denial leaves in place a First Circuit ruling that the rule does not violate the Fourth Amendment's protection against warrantless searches because commercial fishing is a closely regulated industry.
Order (Bloomberg Law) → · Law360
Key points
- The Supreme Court denied review on October 5, 2026, of a challenge to Maine's lobster boat tracking rule.Bloomberg LawLaw360
- The Maine Department of Marine Resources rule requires continuous trackers on vessels that hold federal lobster permits.Bloomberg LawLaw360
- The lobstermen argued the tracking amounted to an unreasonable search that violated their privacy rights.Bloomberg LawLaw360
- The First Circuit had held the tracking scheme does not violate the Fourth Amendment because fishing is a closely regulated industry.Bloomberg Law
- The denial leaves the First Circuit's ruling in place.Bloomberg Law