The Tuna Route Festival was born on the island of Porto Santo as a tribute to the fish that gives it its name, the Tuna.

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The history of tuna in the Madeira and Porto Santo islands is both large and significant, from an economic and cultural perspective. Tuna fishing has been a central activity for the local economy, and the tuna caught in these waters is considered of excellent quality.

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Due to its geographical location, the waters surrounding Madeira and Porto Santo have become a strategic area for tuna fishing, as they lie on the migratory routes of the fish, especially the Bluefin Tuna ("Thunnus thynnus").

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The mild climate and abundance of food make the waters of the region particularly attractive to these schools of fish.