Moecanti is the name given to the fishermen who catch moeche, a typical Venetian lagoon crab caught during the brief period when it sheds its shell and becomes soft. Considered one of the most prized and sought-after delicacies among food enthusiasts, moeche can fetch as much as €60–70 per kilo at the Rialto Market.

Despite their high market value, however, this traditional fishery is now on the verge of disappearing. Only a handful of fishermen still practise it in the lagoon. Moeche fishing is seasonal, taking place mainly from March to May and from October to November, depending on climatic conditions.

The production of moeche begins with catching crabs in the shallow waters of the lagoon using fixed nets known as trezze. After an initial sorting process, the fishermen select the granzi boni (crabs suitable for raising into moeche), the spiantani (crabs about to shed their shells), and the mazanette (female crabs), while returning the granzi matti (crabs that are not yet ready) to the water.

The selected crabs are then kept in separate groups in a form of aquaculture. They are not fed but are placed in special semi-floating wooden enclosures called vieri, made of wooden slats separated by narrow gaps, fitted with lids and kept at the water’s surface. Every day, the fishermen must inspect the vieri, remove the crabs that have shed their shells and become moeche, and take them to market immediately.