By the dozen: man facing multiple counts of trading in rare bird eggs
A 62-year-old Granton man fronted the Hobart Magistrates Court on Wednesday to face multiple Commonwealth allegations of trading internationally in the eggs of endangered birds.
A 62-year-old Granton man fronted the Hobart Magistrates Court on Wednesday to face multiple Commonwealth allegations of trading internationally in the eggs of endangered birds.
Stephen Michael Blakey has been charged with four counts of exporting a regulated native specimen, and three counts of exporting fauna protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Mr Blakey faces another seven counts of importing CITES specimens, and one count of possessing a non-native specimen.
The 14 importing and exporting charges relate to alleged breaches of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act that are said to have taken place in the North West town of Penguin between 2019 and 2023.
The charge of possession can be traced to an alleged find at a Granton property on 9 July 2024.
In a move that was not opposed by Commonwealth prosecutors, Mr Blakey’s lawyer requested Magistrate Chris Webster adjourn the case until next year.
Magistrate Webster bailed Mr Blakey to reappear in court on 24 March, 2026.
