Sea worm baskets (meci leu moko hina)

Sea worm baskets, meci leu moko hina, are small square based baskets woven from palm fronds. Meci leu moko hina weaver Victoria da Cruz in aledia Ioro, Tutala sub-district, says that baskets are used for storing sea worms (meci) collected during ceremonial harvests that take place twice a year. Meci are attracted to algae washed from Tutuala shores during the wet seasons. Harvest takes place when sea worms spawn by the shore in Tutuala in two stages; in the last quarters of the moon in February in a smaller harvest known as meci kiik, and in March, at a larger harvest known as meci boot. Meci are photosensitive, so the harvest must take place at night using fire sticks to attract meci in shallow water. As meci die within hours of spawning they must be gathered quickly and are eaten raw with salt, chilli and lime.

Photo: Victoria da Cruz (third from left) weaving meci leu moko hina in aledia Ioro, Tutuala sub-district.