The environmental cost of shrimp aquaculture: A bibliometric and systematic review of unsustainable farming in mangrove ecosystems

Abstract Mangroves play a crucial role in supporting human well-being, especially in the coastal regions of developing countries, by providing a wide range of essential ecosystem services. However, globally, the practice of coastal aquaculture, such as shrimp farming, has severely detrimental consequences for these vital mangrove forests. It is important to note that mangroves are the most carbon-rich forests in tropical areas and hold significant ecological and economic value on a global scale. Unfortunately, the destruction of mangroves due to coastal aquaculture not only contributes to carbon emissions but also hampers their ability to capture and store carbon. In this study conducted a thorough quantitative literature review to analyze both numerical and thematic trends in the provision of ecosystem services by mangrove forests. Additionally, conducted a systematic review to understand the impact of human activities and natural factors on the loss of mangrove forests. The period between 2014 to 2025 was identified as a stage of rapid growth, as the number of publications on this topic increased significantly each year. Notably, researchers from the USA, Australia, China, Indonesia and, UK have produced influential work on mangrove ecosystem services. The themes “blue carbon”, “carbon sequestration”, and “carbon stock” were identified as the emerging fields of research in this area that warrants further investigation in the future. Our findings indicate that shrimp farming is the primary human cause of mangrove forest loss, accounting for 90.16% of research cases. Other significant threats to mangrove forests include agricultural expansion, pollution, gathering of mangrove cockles, grazing, and the collection of firewood and timber. Among natural factors, tropical cyclones are the main cause of mangrove loss. Therefore, it is necessary to implement public policies for mangrove conservation and restoration actions in order to mitigate the effects of climate change.