Bibliometric Analysis of the Effects of Aquaculture on Mangrove Forests

Mangroves are coastal ecosystems that stand out for their biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and natural flood defences. These ecosystems face significant threats from human activities, particularly aquaculture. This research uses bibliometric techniques such as the evolution of scientific production, bibliographic coupling by country, and cooccurrence of keywords to identify trends, collaboration networks, and emerging research areas using the Scopus database, chosen for its broad coverage of high-quality academic journals and peer review. This analysis describes the evolution and trends in mangrove studies, covering environmental, social, and legal issues. The methodological process was divided into three stages: design and data collection strategy, filtering and validation of the literature, and quantitative analysis to identify trends and thematic evolutions. A total of 993 documents from 39 countries have been reviewed, with the main contributions coming from China, the United States, and Indonesia. The study identified four priority areas for the development of research and future trends on the following topics: a) evaluation of heavy metal pollution, b) blue carbon and its impact on climate change mitigation, c) conservation and protection strategies, d) the use of remote sensors and machine learning for monitoring mangrove loss. These approaches are crucial for conserving mangroves, improving understanding and response capacity to climate change, and contributing to Sustainable Development Goals, considering the socioeconomic value of these ecosystems.