From the Sea to Our Families

My name is Néstor Gómez Rangel. I’ve been a fisherman by trade since I was young, and I’m fortunate to live in the port town of Celestún, Yucatán—a place where the sea is not only part of the landscape, but also part of our lives, our families, and the way we make a living.

From a young age, I learned that being a fisherman means much more than going out to sea. It means getting up early, preparing the gear, watching the sky and the water, and, above all, learning to respect what sustains us. The sea has taught me that making a living from it is one of the most wonderful things there is, but it has also taught me that we must take care of it.

Over the years, I’ve come to understand that protecting marine species and caring for our marine resources is everyone’s responsibility. If we want our children and future generations to continue finding a source of life in the sea, we must learn to use it responsibly and respectfully.

A dream born with family in mind

When I started Suaiba, one motivation mattered more than any other: my family. As a fisherman, I know firsthand the hard work and sacrifices involved in making a living from the sea, but I also know the needs of those who depend on this work.

That’s why Suaiba was born from a desire to do more than sell products. I wanted it to be a way to support fishermen, create opportunities, and bring seafood to businesses in our community.

Today, Suaiba produces soft-shell crab and its derivatives, as well as finfish such as grouper, yellowtail snapper, canané, and various fillets. We also work with natural salt in different forms. Each of these products represents much more than food. Behind them are people, families, hard work, and many hours of labor.

The challenges that are also part of the journey

Being a fisherman has taught me that no two days are alike. One of the hardest feelings is leaving home and leaving my family behind to head out to sea, never knowing for sure when I’ll return.

You say goodbye hoping to come back, but at sea, you can never control everything. There’s also the uncertainty of not knowing whether you’ll return with a good catch. Sometimes the effort is enormous, and the reward doesn’t come as you’d hoped.

On top of all this are market competition and the challenges of building a business. Still, each difficulty has taught me to keep going, seek new opportunities, and remember why we began.

More than a business, a way to serve

Today, when I look at Suaiba, I feel deeply satisfied. Knowing that we can meet the needs of local businesses, provide quality products, and at the same time create jobs for others means a great deal to me.

We care about the freshness and safety of every product because we know that behind every purchase is a family, a restaurant, a business, and people who trust our work.

When I look back and remember my early years as a fisherman, I can see how much the journey has changed. But one thing remains: my love and respect for the sea and for my family.

To me, that’s exactly what Suaiba represents: the opportunity to turn the hard work of those of us who make a living from the sea into opportunities for others.

And if anything fills me with pride, it’s knowing that every day we can give a little back to our community: help a family by providing a job, support a fisherman, meet a business’s needs, and offer a product made with care.

Because in the end, behind every product that leaves Suaiba, there’s a story.

And that story begins where it all began for me: by the sea in Celestún.

Néstor Gómez Rangel / Celestún, Yucatán

+52 999 435 6664