Madeira's skipjack tuna season peaks in September and October
Skipjack tuna, known locally as gaiado, is most abundant in Madeiran waters in September and October, according to the Regional Directorate for the Sea. Traditionally caught by pole-and-line fishing with live bait, the species has long been part of the archipelago's diet. Beyond being eaten fresh, it is salted and sun-dried into 'gaiado seco', a preservation method that predates refrigeration and remains especially significant in Porto Santo's culinary heritage. Fresh gaiado is rich in protein and relatively low in fat, while the dried version concentrates nutrients but also sodium, requiring moderate consumption.
Summarised by Sustainable Living from Diário de Notícias da Madeira — Read the original ↗